Agriculture is the bedrock of our societies and our ability to feed ourselves. However, with difficult terrain, climate change and more resilient pests to name just a few of the challenges that plague that sector, having ready access to accurate and relevant crop-related information could be a game changer for farmers everywhere. In this episode, Dr Haimwant Persaud of Latitude Geospatial Consulting discusses his mobile application, Latitude Sat2Farm, including: how it works and the technologies it uses; the types of insights it can provide farmers; the benefit Latitude Sat2Farm could offer Caribbean farmers, as the region is prone to natural disasters; and other tools or technologies the region should be leveraging to help us become more resilient.

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

Agriculture has long been recognised as a crucial yet underdeveloped sector in the economy of virtually all Caribbean countries. Most countries struggle to feed themselves which has resulted in high food import bills, and the ongoing CARICOM 25 by 25 Initiative: to reduce the CARICOM region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025.

But to be fair, the agricultural sector is plagued with numerous challenges including, difficult terrain, weather peculiarities, the impact of climate change, the investment cost, the difficulty in securing financing, and the often relatively limited return on the investments made. However, it could also be argued that the region’s agriculture sector has not readily embraced technology, which could make existing operations more efficient and effective, ultimately resulting in better yields. At the same time, the region’s sector generally comprises subsistence and small farms that often do not have the money or the capacity to secure and leverage available technologies. Further, some of the solutions that are being offered would not work well in the Caribbean region and this particular customer segment – where, for example,  internet connectivity may still be a challenge in rural areas and farmers may not own the latest and most sophisticated computing devices.

Over the years, we have discussed agriculture technology (agritech) on the Podcast, cognisant of its importance not only to our economies but also to our food security. In this episode, we are highlighting a mobile application Latitude Sat2Farm, that puts a considerable amount of agriculture-related intelligence in the hands of our farmers.

 

Introducing our guest

Dr Haimwant Persaud

An accomplished Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing specialist, Dr Haimwant Persaud has over 15 years of experience applying geospatial technologies to support natural resource management, sustainable development, and environmental conservation projects. He holds a PhD in Sustainable Forest Management, a Master of Science degree in Geographical Information Systems, a Master of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Engineering. He is also a Certified GIS Professional (GISP) accredited by the GIS Certification Institute.

Haimwant’s expertise spans the full range of GIS and Remote Sensing capabilities including spatial analysis, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), digital imagery processing, land use classification, feature extraction, database development, web application development, and more. Throughout his career, he has served as a Geospatial Consultant on projects for clients such as the European Union, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Natural Resources in Guyana.

Haimwant is the Director of Latitude Geospatial, a company dedicated to helping clients leverage geospatial technologies to enhance decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and support strategic planning across various industries, including environmental management, urban planning, transportation, and more. Latitude Geospatial is known for its innovative approaches and commitment to delivering high-quality, customized geospatial solutions.

 

Insights into our conversation

In the Caribbean, the majority of our farmers do not go to school to learn their craft and develop their expertise. They would have picked it up from family members and generally possess very basic skills. Further, the support structures for the agriculture sector tend to be limited, with the greatest investments being made for export crops. Access to granular and real-time intelligence is often non-existent, with farmers depending on field officers or the local agriculture office to provide guidance and assistance when needed.

However, as someone who grew up in a farming family in a remote community, and is also a farmer, Haimwant is intimately aware of the challenges of agriculture in the Caribbean region. On the flip side, it is fascinating the technology and useful farming data that can be generated and accessed via a simple smartphone. Thanks to the features and capabilities of Latitude Sat2Farm, farmers would not only have access to more agriculture and crop-related information, but they could also become more empowered and be in a better position to make more informed decisions.

 

Below are some of the questions that drove our conversation with Haimwant.

  1. So tell us about Latitude Geospatial. Why did you set it up and what services does it offer?
  2. What problem is Latitude Sat2Farm trying to solve?
  3. How does Latitude Sat2Farm work? What are some of the technologies that Latitude Sat2farm uses?
  4. Although Latitude Sat2Farm on the consumer side requires an app, what technology requirements would farmers (for example) need to have to interact with or access the insights produced via the app?
  5. Okay, let’s step back a bit and tell us a bit of your story.
  6. What is it like being an entrepreneur in Guyana? What do you think about the country’s start-up environment/ start-up culture?
  7. Earlier this month, in July, Hurricane Beryl barrelled through the region and destroyed farming areas here in Jamaica. Looking into the future, and noting that our region is vulnerable to natural disasters, what benefit could Latitude Sat2Farm offer?
  8. Also, are there any other tools or technologies the region should be leveraging to help us become more resilient?
  9. Where would you like to see Latitude Geospatial in the next 3 to 5 years?

 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  H Persaud;  Latitude Geospatial Consulting

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez