FARMERS flocked the Nand Persaud and Company Limited Boardroom at Number 36 Village, East Berbice, Corentyne on Saturday as Minister of Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, and team took the Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s (CTU) Roadshow team to Berbice.

The CTU in collaboration with the Ministry of Telecommunications met with farmers and residents alike to enlighten them on how technology can be used in everyday activities, especially in the agriculture sector.

The CTU in their 24th road show edition since starting in 2009, aims to make the lives of farmers and residents easier while allowing them various opportunities to utilise technology to tap into new markets and maximise their profit margins.

Participants benefitted from presentations on the use of an app where commodities available are matched to farmers with buyers, use of drone in agriculture, the use of micro bits for soil moisture testing as well as how to make use of the Internet to access online marketplaces in need of agricultural produce.

The presentation on the use of the micro bit was demonstrated by students of Bygeval Secondary School. The students are on the horizon of creating a sprinkler system.

Additionally, participants were introduced to Agriculture Superhero Character “Agriman” who reaffirmed that farmers are some of the most affluent people in the world.

He noted that the use of ICT in advancing agriculture is more of balancing traditional knowledge with ICT and will take farmers and the agriculture sector into the new age.

CTU Secretary General, Bernadette Lewis, explained that ICT presents new opportunities for communications, engagement, discussions and idea sharing.

She impressed upon farmers that it is a powerful tool which transforms and presents opportunities to do things differently and gives access to not only our neighbours but global partners as well.

“The possibilities available in ICT present that means by which you will change your world, so it gives you a certain control to influence your environment so you are not continuously having to deal with the consequence of other people impacting your environment,” Lewis said.

She also stressed the need to collaborate and educate the younger generation about ICT and urged that they use technology to transform Berbice.

“Development is not something that is conferred, nobody can do this for you. Development is something we have to do for ourselves. We have to look at our situation; we have to consider what are the challenges we have and we have look at ICT, then when we look at the challenge, we have to say–can I use these technology to overcome these challenges?

“We can use ICT to educate our citizens, preserve traditions and improve the quality of lives, enhance business, make business more efficient to be able to reach out and collaborate, create new business, and transform the economy. It is possible and within our reach,” the CTU general-secretary said.

Minister Hughes was very pleased with the response to the event and said Government remains committed to making available resources to Berbicians to get more involved in e-agriculture.

“What we are saying is that things have changed, times have changed, agriculture has changed and what we really want to do is build and take agriculture to a new level so more and more what we are committed to is coming more out to the Berbice area and showing them and training them how to use technology in agriculture,” the minister said.

She also called for the younger generation to be the bridge that helps their parents and older farmers become more involved in the use of technology to better their lives.