DIGICEL PARTNERS WITH AGRICULTURE MINISTRY IN AGRICULTURE MARKETING INFORMATION SERVICE (AMIS)

Key stakeholders in Agriculture Sector to get up to date information on market prices

Guyana’s number one mobile communications provider Digicel, has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture through Guyana Marketing Corporation to develop an Agriculture Marketing Information Service (AMIS). This service is expected to improve the flow of information between the producers of crops and livestock and their markets –locally and regionally. With this very affordable service farmers and other key stakeholders in the sector will have reliable agriculture market information at their convenience.

During the launch of AMIS, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, explained that “one of the major drivers of expansion and modernization of the agriculture sector in many states is information technology (IT) - in particular, the internet and the use of cellular services. He stated that the Ministry is embarking on a number of programmes to develop the Agriculture industry and AMIS plays a very important role in this development.”

In phase two of this project, farmers will be able to subscribe for alerts on their mobiles which will include weather warnings and other pertinent information regarding the protection of their investments.

Digicel Guyana CEO, Gregory Dean, said, “Digicel understands the importance of reliable information at your finger tips and AMIS is simply another step that we have taken towards revolutionizing the mobile communications sector in the Guyana. Digicel’s network coverage extends across the length and breath of Guyana and we will certainly reach the majority of farming communities even those in outlying regions.”

Farmers who wish to access this service can text HELP to 1010 for a list of the commodities available and text the name of any of those to 1010 for the wholesale and retails prices at Stabroek Market and Bourda Market. Farmers can also text “WEATHER” to 1010 for an update on weather.

Over the next few weeks, the Digicel team along with the members of the Agriculture Ministry and GMC will be going out into the farming communities to meet with farmers to discuss ways they can maximize the use of this service.