Jamaica ICT4D Agricultural Policy

Date

2005

Country

Jamaica

Region

Caribbean

Policy Status

Policy adopted

Sectors

Agriculture

Subsectors

Agriculture: efficiency, competitiveness, productivity, information systems.

Lead Organisation

Ministry of Agriculture

Overview

This summary is part of a research project carried out between March and October 2006 in support of the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), one of The Communication Initiative (The CI)'s partners.

Central to Jamaica’s economy, the country’s agricultural sector employed approximately 19 percent of its labour force and accounted for more than one-tenth of its merchandise exports in 2004. The sector currently faces the challenge of improving upon its efficiency, competitiveness, and productivity in order to be able to contribute as planned to the gross domestic product (GDP). Contributing to these challenges is the use of inappropriate technologies, an issue the Ministry of Agriculture hopes to address through a sector transformation programme that includes the adoption of appropriate technologies.

The following policies and plans guide the development of the agricultural sector: The Agricultural Development Strategy (2005 - 2008); The Corporate Plan (2005/06 - 2007/08); and The Operational Plan (Annual). These three documents outline the information technology (IT) initiatives that have been undertaken or are planned for Jamaica’s agriculture sector. Technology transfer and research is among the five major strategic platforms the Ministry of Agriculture plans to leverage in order to improve upon the sector’s competitiveness and efficiency and thereby increase its contribution to Jamaica’s economic growth.

Contact

Permanent Secretary’s Office

Ministry of Agriculture

Hope Gardens

Kingston

6

Jamaica

Tel: 876 927 1731 50

Fax: 876 927 1904

Government of Jamaica Ministry of Agriculture website

psoffice@moa.gov.jm

Policy Objectives

The government of Jamaica’s objective for the agricultural sector in the context of economic policy is an increase in the sector’s efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness; the earning of more foreign exchange; and a greater contribution to national food security.

Strategies

In light of the agriculture sector’s declining resources and increasing competition from more technology advanced farmers in the global marketplace, the government recognises the contribution IT can make to enhancing the sector’s efficiency and productivity by leveraging limited resources. As a result, the Government of Jamaica is fully committed to the strategic application of IT as a tool to enhance the agricultural sector’s competitiveness. Current initiatives include:

Agri-Business Information System (ABIS)

Currently under development, this computer-based information system will collect and disseminate to interested parties information on crops, marketing, agricultural stakeholders, and agricultural production.

Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

The Forest Department and the Rural Physical Planning Division are currently using GIS as a tool in the mapping and management of Jamaica’s forest and land resources; as a communication network linking departments within the Ministry of Agriculture and allowing for improved external and internal communication through the use of internet and email services; and to transmit data and reports electronically, contributing to more efficient data collection and dissemination. The private sector, in turn, is using GIS for the purpose of advertising and marketing agricultural products via the internet.

In addition to these initiatives, the government is committed to a much wider application of IT within the agricultural sector. The following areas are under consideration:

Development of an effective means of transferring technology to farmers in order to allow for greater information feedback from farmers;
The use of video-conferencing to widen the reach of training materials for farmers;
A greater use of computer technology applications such as email, teleconferencing, electronic discussion groups, and regional and international research networks in order to improve interaction and research among agricultural researchers; and
Leveraging IT to drive the greater utilisation of intensive agricultural systems such as:

-computer controlled environments ie. horticulture;

-hydroponic systems;

-Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to aid in the collection, production, and marketing of data and land management;

-automated irrigation water management;

-electronic transfers for facilitating payment between those purchasing agriculture produce and farmers;

-the management of forestry and wildlife inventories;

-the collection, storage, management, and distribution of bio-data, disease incidences, and pests.

In order to make headway on these initiatives, the government is increasing the proportion of its budget spent on general IT training, providing training to support job creation in the IT sector, prioritising computer lab establishment with internet access in schools and public places, and establishing an IT legislative framework.