– small farmers to benefit from increased access to services – Min. Persaud
The inclusion and advancement of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in most sectors have been the focus of stakeholders looking to further propel Guyana’s development.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, stressed that ICT can accelerate the modernization process of the agriculture sector.
“We have always recognised the potential of ICT…ICT can support the general agricultural development, as it relates to value added, marketing, research and other forms of agriculture development,” he said.
Persaud maintained that making use of the opportunities made available through the advancement of ICT is something that the sector has done and will continue to do.
He said, “We want to ensure that the sector benefits early and vastly from the opportunities ICT’s advancement will give.”
He pointed out that this process was supported since 2006 with Guyana’s ICT 4D Strategy, which he coordinated and was considered in Guyana’s National ICT Strategy.
Guyana’s National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Strategy is a plan to facilitate and ensure the dramatic increase of the nation’s social and economic wealth at all levels, individual, organisational and national.
“We have a team at the Agriculture Ministry that is working closely with the Office of the President to advance ICT in the sector,” Persaud said.

The Small Farmer

The minister made it clear that the small farmers will benefit and pointed out that the ministry’s ICT team is working closely with the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF).
“ICT for the small farmers is a tool of liberation, allowing greater access to markets, greater access to research, reducing their costs, and offering better training on best practices in the sector,” he said.
He stated that his ministry is looking to have centres set up to engage small farmers in training to better equip them for the technology age.
“Through the OLPF, more families will have access to the technology…in their homes they can be connected to markets, research and an array of other services,” said Persaud.
According to him, agricultural diversification continues to be a main area of focus to expand the sector’s productive base.
Some $1.5B was allocated in this year’s National Budget for agriculture diversification programmes, compared with $1.3B for 2010, and this will be aimed at augmenting the implementation of the strategic plans for the three cluster groups, fruits and vegetables, livestock and aquaculture.
Persaud noted that there have been successes with the investments in diversification.
These investments included a focus on providing institutional strengthening, capacity building, credit facilities, improved physical infrastructure, and the upgrading and enactment of several pieces of legislations.
“The ministry will continue to focus on new and innovative technologies to improve the livelihood of rural farmers, and concurrently transform the sector into one that is modern and competitive, that will withstand global challenges,” he stressed.
Persaud contends that the sector is now poised to further expand its services to farmers, rural farming communities, and other stakeholders, and made it clear that investments in the sector will continue apace.