International Trade Centre Consultant Stephane Boyera left hands over a tablet to Deputy Secretary Corporate Services Maca Tulakepa.PHOTO:SUPPLIED
The Agriculture ministry in collaboration with Geneva-based Information Trade Centre(ITC) organised training for its officers this week in an effort to improve the dissemination of market prices to farmers using the internet.
ITC consultant Stephane Boyera said the objective of the training was to capture data quickly using tablets, improve the quality of information and provide for easy access to market database through the internet.
Mr Boyera also handed over 12 tablets to the ministry which was received by deputy secretary Maca Tulakepa.
Mrs Tulakepa said the training will help staff to understand supply chains and enable farmers to increase their profits by comparing prices with all other markets.
She said the overall benefit of a market survey was that it allows for the rapid detection of any difference along the supply chain and to follow price and cost trends for improved market analysis.
It is also envisaged that other extension officers will be trained to use the tablet application for collecting, analysing and using market information on commodities.
In the farmer’s case, she said they can identify where to do business and at what price their produced will be sold.
Mrs Tulakepa emphasised on the need to have more specialised and customised information which can target any kind of audience.
“These reports are provided to and disseminated to Food and Agriculture Office in Samoa and are made available to any interested party but most importantly our farmers,” she said.
Mrs Tulakepa said they will continue to work with [ITC] on any project initiative which is helping developing countries on sharing of information.
Tablets will be distributed to municipal market data collectors mostly extension officers in Labasa, Lautoka, Rakiraki and Tavua.
Press Release