Challenge
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, poultry farming is one of the fastest-growing agricultural activities, providing food security and income for millions of families. However, behind this growth lies an invisible challenge — greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from poultry houses, mainly methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and ammonia (NH₃). These gases contribute to climate change and poor air quality, yet most smallholder poultry farmers have no way of measuring or managing them.

Current GHG monitoring technologies are designed for large industrial farms and cost thousands of dollars. They require technical expertise, stable internet, and controlled conditions — none of which are available in rural African settings. This means that millions of small poultry farmers are left out of global climate data systems and carbon markets simply because they cannot measure what they emit.

In Zambia, where our project is based, more than 80% of poultry farms are small-scale and rely on open or semi-closed housing systems. Waste and litter often accumulate in poorly ventilated areas, releasing gases that harm birds, reduce productivity, and impact the health of farmers. The absence of real-time emission data makes it difficult for policymakers to design effective climate mitigation strategies for the livestock sector.

The problem goes beyond the environment — it also affects livelihoods. Without verifiable GHG data, poultry farmers cannot participate in carbon credit programs or climate finance initiatives. This locks them out of emerging green economic opportunities that could help them grow sustainably.

Our project, CluckTech, was born from this gap. As agriculture and technology students at Mooto College of Business, we saw an opportunity to combine IoT and biosensor science to create a simple, affordable, and data-driven way for farmers to monitor emissions. We want to bridge the divide between smallholder farmers and the digital climate economy, empowering them to reduce emissions and earn income from doing so.

By focusing on this challenge, we are not only addressing a local problem but contributing to a global goal: making climate action inclusive, accessible, and rewarding for everyone — even the smallest farmer.

CluckTech: Smart IoT Biosensors for Poultry Carbon Monitoring.

CluckTech: Smart IoT Biosensors for Poultry Carbon Monitoring.