Remote monitoring of agricultural farms around the country through satellite technology will augur well for decisions about the sector, based on solid data.
A total of 278 farms around the country were plotted using Global Positioning Systems from April to June this year.
It’s one of the major achievements of the Department of Agriculture for the second quarter.
Permanent secretary Lt. Colonel Mason Smith said modern technological applications made the sector more relevant to the contemporary business climate.
The GPS plotting allows the department to monitor farms without making physical inspections, consequently cutting down on operational costs and at the same time collecting data that forms a concrete base for decisions on developments.
“What the GPS plotting will indicate to us is whether or not the farms are increasing in size,” he said.
“So when we look at the farm project here at headquarters we are able to pull up on the map the exact coordinates of where the farm is and the infrastructure on the farm that we have built or the farmer has built themselves.
“Over the years we will be able to look back on the farm and see whether the farm has gone down in size or improved.
“And that will give us an indication of the progress or otherwise of farming activities.
“I don’t have to actually go down on the farms, although I normally do, but we will be able to get farm images via satellite.
“The first round of GPS readings has gone around the country – we will do another one very shortly after the team has submitted all reports to the data collection centre.
“This is important to the agricultures sector, especially in the way the sector can contribute more to national economical growth because everything should be based on data and that is part of the data collection that we have.”
Quick Facts:
Bua – 12 farms
Macuata – 46 farms
Cakaudrove – 43 farms
Nadroga Navosa – 129 farms
Tailevu – 22 farms
Namosi – 10 farms
Serua – 5 farms
Rewa – 4 farms
Vanuabalavu – 3 farms
Lakeba – 1 farm
Kabara – 2 farms
Oneata – 1 farm
Ends…