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.