Namibia has terminated an agreement with the US agricultural technology company 6th Grain Corporation to deploy an AI-based and satellite-driven crop monitoring system, Namibia Daily News reports, citing Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Land Reform Romeo Muyunda.
"The agreement did not meet the necessary legal and procedural requirements applicable to contractual agreements entered into on behalf of the government," Muyunda said.
He added that the termination of the agreement was aimed at protecting the country's interests and ensuring that government contracts comply with current laws, regulations, and established procedures.
The contract was valued at approximately $2.4 million. Under the agreement, Namibia was to receive satellite crop monitoring, remote sensing, geospatial analytics, and artificial intelligence tools to improve yield forecasting, drought monitoring, and agricultural planning.
6th Grain Corporation, founded in 2015, specializes in using artificial intelligence to track crop conditions, forecast yields, and mitigate agricultural risks for both small-scale farmers and large commercial agribusinesses.
In June, Namibia's Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) rejected Starlink's request for a review of its license to operate in the country, citing that it was filed outside the legally established timeframe.