Telkom's innovative Smart AgriTech initiative, launched in collaboration with Stellenbosch University and Aizatron, will use advanced technology to revolutionise wine farming in South Africa.

Telkom’s latest venture into Smart AgriTech aims to find smart, tech-enabled solutions for South Africa’s agricultural sector.

Officially launched on 18 February 2025 at Lanzerac Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, the groundbreaking Telkom Smart AgriTech initiative integrates Telkom’s cutting-edge 5G connectivity with Aizatron’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, alongside Stellenbosch University’s (SU) advanced agricultural research and South Africa Wine’s industry expertise.

Together, Telkom, SU, and Aizatron will use technology and agriculture to modernise farming practices, empower local communities, improve water management, and improve the lives of South Africans nationwide.

Endless possibilities

This initiative demonstrates Telkom’s commitment to innovation and its role in delivering advanced technologies to businesses in South Africa.

During the launch, Lunga Siyo, Chief Executive Officer of Telkom CSB stated that with the Smart AgriTech initiative, Telkom is “taking a bold step in transforming agriculture and showcasing how connectivity can unlock endless possibilities."

Top 8 things you need to understand about AgriTech in South Africa

1. Local initiatives such as Telkom’s new venture with Stellenbosch University and Aizatron show South Africa has the resources and capabilities to find solutions for its problems.
2. Smart AgriTech is key to dealing with problems like erratic weather with smart irrigation and data-driven farming solutions helping to reduce environmental strain.
3. By adopting AI-driven solutions, farmers are able to predict weather patterns, assess crop health, and detect diseases and pests.
4. South Africa is leading in AgriTech, with multiple homegrown innovative AgriTech apps and digital tools, such as the farm management software Khula!
5. A challenge facing the South African AgriTech industry is the lack of knowledge about these new technologies, which can affect the adoption rate.
6. Another challenge is the rural connectivity gap - poor internet and infrastructure cause problems with scaling and deploying in rural areas.
7. Startups in South Africa struggle with funding despite innovation, causing them to lag behind more financially secure businesses such as established fintech.
8. Despite these challenges, AgriTech in South Africa continues to shape the farming community, building sustainability and revolutionising the agricultural community.

Key benefits of the partnership

Telkom aims to be the leading provider of connectivity for wine farms, improving digital infrastructure. By leveraging the skills of tech innovators, the partnership also focuses on developing skills for farm workers, helping to improve their lives and promote career advancement in agriculture.

Embracing the future

Africa's growth depends on using local innovations to solve its specific problems. Homegrown AI-focused AgriTech can drive economic growth, sustainability, and inclusive development. Supporting African creators and encouraging digital access fits well with national goals for technology-based economic progress.

Telkom's collaboration with SA Wine marks an important step in merging technology with agriculture.This initiative is set to drive growth and innovation, making South Africa a leader in AgriTech.

Telkom is committed to fostering innovation and driving growth within the agricultural sector. Watch this space for more updates on how Telkom continues to shape the landscape of AgriTech innovation in South Africa and beyond.