ICT4D Jamaica - Agriculture survey 2006

Executive Summary

The need for information sharing has increased significantly over the last decade and into the new Millennium. As a result, the performance and subsequent productivity of various sectors of an economy have come into greater focus and scrutiny for their role in improving overall GDP. The best technological solutions are being sought to enhance the productivity of the Agricultural sector and improve the nation’s competitiveness on an ever increasing world-stage.
 
While agriculture and agro-industrial enterprises are and will remain for the foreseeable future, the backbone of the rural economy, ICTs must still be seen as an enabler for the development of the Agricultural sector and not the sole contributing factor to single-handedly transform its outputs especially in the areas of production and marketing.

The importance of the sector to Jamaica is undeniable (Presentation on JEA’s role in Growing Agro-Industry, 2004). Agro-processing is a major component of the manufactured foods sub-sector that has contributed approximately 14% to GDP on average over the period 1999-2003. Data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica shows that sector earnings grew in the period 1999 to 2002 from US$24.9 million to US$35 million. This represents approximately 40 percent increase over the four year period. The sector employs approximately 5% of Jamaica’s total workforce, the great majority of which are women.

The report on the Agriculture/Agri-business survey is the second in a series of three that will add to existing wealth of research studies that have been conducted on the sector over the past decade. Approximately 474 respondents provided data from the 13 parishes. This was facilitated by the field officers who captured the data in some instances via interviews of the farmers.

The entire report can be summarized by the following points:

• Most respondents raise food crops with a great portion of the remainder spread amongst various agribusiness activities
• The vast majority of respondents do not export their raw or processed products
• Few respondents use market information for selling most of their goods and services
• Respondents also rely on the traditional forms of ICTs such as radio and television for farm-related information while Internet and basic computer use is still very low amongst respondents
• Most respondents are interested in learning ICT skills and almost as equally interested in using technology to develop their business in the near future
• Most respondents believe that the use of the computer and having access to the Internet will result in the greatest impact on their business
• The recommendations from this survey serve to inform the Agriculture and Agri-business sector of strategies and policies that can be utilized over time to realize greater economic gains. They include: