Technology: The critical factor holding back our agriculture sector growth

By Fitzroy Fletcher

The Caribbean Agri-Business Association (CABA), some years ago, stated in its “Strategic Plan” that the deficiency in the technology supply service in the CARICOM region was the most critical impediment to the development of the agriculture sector. This was not a difficult conclusion to arrive at, since it was clear that for the agriculture sector to grow and be competitive, it had to have agronomic systems that enabled cost and quality competitiveness. This is still the straightforward economic reality today.

The invited Brazilian expert, in his presentation to the “Guyana Agriculture Diversification Summit” of December 2006, told the Summit that “for the sector to grow, competitivity is an essential feature. This means that to stay in the market, the productive processes must be gaining economic efficiency continually, so as to be able to face the competition”. Though English was not his first language, the point was clearly made: an efficient technology generation system is an absolutely necessary ingredient for agriculture development. The reality is that farmers, both small and large are profit driven entities. When they are given a more effective agronomic solution to produce their crops, a solution which makes them more money, they will grasp it with both hands.