A MODERN approach to Barbados’ agricultural platform is being developed, and is expected to fundamentally improve the relationship between consumers and suppliers of agricultural products, locally and abroad.
With just a tablet or even a smart phone, local producers, after registering with the Ministry of Agriculture, can advertise items for sale, while consumers large and small can check prices and purchase produce through the new platform which the Minister of Agriculture Dr. David Estwick believes can change the outlook on agriculture.
Speaking to the media at his Ministry’s Graeme Hall headquarters yesterday afternoon, the Minister explained that for a long time Barbados has been stuck with the agricultural sector contributing approximately 2.5 to 3 per cent of GDP. This, he said, was partly because of the size of production, but also as a result of the weakness in the relationships and institutional structures that allow the farmers and the market to interact in a timely manner.
“What would normally result is a situation where there is a disconnect between what is produced in Barbados and what is consumed in Barbados.
He revealed that this move to modernise had its origins approximately two years ago where the Ministry of Labour, working with the European Union, developed a Human Resource Development Strategy out of which the MOA’s input was to look to develop a modern agricultural platform, advancing two basic elements, namely agripreneurship and agribusiness.
He explained that the devised Knowledge Management System includes three features, including a farmers market. “A buyers’ and sellers’ market where producers of farm products would interact in real time feature very much like Amazon, eBay, where they would advertise their products, quantities, prices, not only to the local market but regional and international market and customers and consumers, whether individual or companies like hotels or restaurants or supermarkets can interact in real-time with the website and make offers to purchase what is advertised on that website,” he elaborated
The Market Information System (MIS) is the second element of the Knowledge Management System. “The MIS evaluates the agricultural market in Barbados, the products, how much is being produced, produced by whom and forecasting variables like when they will be harvested. And that information is arranged with respect to volume per price … whether it is fish, potatoes… that MIS now works in an integrated way with the buyer/sellers forum.”
He said the third component will also include a Farm Management System, which is designed to allow the farmers to upgrade their management practices. “So that they essentially produce a product that is of accepted quality given that you are now selling a product for consumption. So it has to sit within the international framework of sanitary and phytosanitary measures as well as a framework with respect to food safety.”
The Minister stressed that once the farmer can manage to farm effectively, it is likely that the price will be driven down adding that, secondarily, there is now competition with regard to the products themselves on the system. “That in itself will help to drive prices down or stabilise prices where there are fluctuations. Those are major steps forward to help develop small- and medium-sized farming and I am looking forward to adding phase two and three, which will radically transform the agricultural sector in Barbados.”
The Buyers’ Forum is operational, the Management Information System would be operational in August, while consultants are awaiting feedback from three methodologies being evaluated in the field to determine which farmers’ management system will be implemented.
The Minister stressed that this new platform is simply a facilitatory tool. “One of the things I have learned is [that] the Ministry should not get engaged in market activity to distort market reality. That is at the level of the person selling and buying. What we do is facilitate,” he stressed. (JH)