IDB-funded Agriculture Information System to access real-time data launched Monday

The Ministry of Agriculture on Monday launched the Agriculture Information System (AIS) to gather, analyse, and disseminate agricultural data in real-time. The initiative is part of the ministry’s Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme (SADP) and is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

When fully operational, the AIS is expected to allow farmers, extension officers, and media personnel to access real-time information on agriculture, enhancing their ability to respond quickly and effectively. Serving as a centralised hub, the system should be providing clear and precise depiction of Guyana’s agriculture industry. The new system is also expected to allow the ministry’s access to daily reports from all extension officers countrywide.

With the much promised improved analytical capacity and enhanced data quality, the AIS should enable policymakers to make informed decisions that drive growth and sustainability in the sector.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, noted the AIS platform will assist the ministry in planning effectively and streamlining internal processes aimed at boosting agricultural production.

The minister also alluded to the importance of continuous training to equip all extension officers with the necessary tools to prepare for the rapid transformation within the sector.

General Manager of the Country Department of the Caribbean at the IDB, Anton Edmunds, highlighted that the initiative marks a promising trajectory for Guyana’s agriculture industry towards modernisation, increased productivity, and sustainable development. The AIS is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and a shared vision, Edmunds noted.

The AIS will also feature a farm register module, aimed at creating a comprehensive database for farmers which will include unique identifiers, contact information, geolocation, acreage, tenure type or purpose, and other pertinent information.

Guyana has the potential to be the Food Basket of the Caribbean but had been hamstrung by political sabotage and mismanagement dating back to the 1970s. The leadership of the then opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) dissuaded Guyanese from getting involved in agriculture under a People’s National Congress (PPP) government.