Salma Timtoni Hardy is a creative force redefining what it means to contribute to agriculture in the 21st century. With a background in visual storytelling and a passion for rural development, Salma is using art, technology, and community engagement to tackle one of Ghana’s most urgent challenges: improving food security through smarter, more inclusive farming.

Inspired by the resilience of farming communities in the Northern Region of Ghana—where unpredictable rainfall, soil degradation, and limited access to timely information make food production increasingly difficult—Salma saw a unique opportunity. Rather than approaching these issues with only technical solutions, she brings creativity to the forefront, using visual communication to connect farmers with the knowledge they need in a way that is intuitive and culturally resonant.

Her initiative, Agri-Intelligence, merges low-cost agricultural sensors with accessible design. The project equips farmers with simple tools like soil moisture monitors, local weather trackers, and mobile-based platforms to make informed decisions on irrigation, planting, and crop care. But what truly sets Salma’s work apart is how the data is communicated: through murals, illustrated guides, local radio programs, and storytelling workshops that translate complex information into clear, visual, and relatable formats.

Agri-Intelligence also empowers young people in farming communities by training them as data interpreters and creative educators. These youth-led sessions turn rural spaces into innovation hubs, where farming practices are enhanced through both practical demonstrations and artistic engagement.

Salma’s vision is rooted in the belief that Ghana’s most effective agricultural solutions must be grounded in local experience and shared in a language everyone understands. “Data is powerful,” she says, “but only if people understand what it means.”

Through Agri-Intelligence, Salma is not only helping farmers grow more with fewer resources—she’s nurturing a culture of creativity-driven problem-solving across Ghana’s agricultural landscape. Her work shows that the future of farming belongs just as much to the artist as it does to the engineer.