Dear Editor,

I was interested to read Erica Anderson’s suggestions on using artificial intelligence (AI) to drive Jamaica’s recovery efforts post-Hurricane Beryl, published in the Jamaica Observer on July 7 entitled ‘Harnessing the power of AI to aid Jamaica’s recovery after Hurricane Beryl’.

Her vision of AI-powered precision farming, enhanced communication tools for tourism, and AI-driven security measures for the financial sector presents a forward-thinking approach to rebuilding our economy.

However, while the theoretical potential of AI is vast, the reality on the ground often presents different challenges.

As the CEO of Farm Credibly, a Kingston-based agtech start-up supporting smallholder farmers across Jamaica, I have first-hand experience with the complexities involved in leveraging technology in agriculture.

With an economy like ours, it’s important to target help where it’s most needed in order to shore up our food security and have the most positive impact when delivering assistance. Relatively few people take on the risks associated with producing our food at scale, and extreme weather events like Beryl show how vulnerable they are. Farmers should not have to take on all the risk on their own, and that’s why we are committed to the work we do.

Technology can help here. Our app, for instance, is designed to address these issues by helping farmers build up a profile and track record, enabling donor agencies and individuals who want to provide aid to identify and support the most impactful food producers accurately. This approach ensures that assistance is directed where it is most needed rather than being distributed indiscriminately.

While politicians often distribute resources widely to gain favour, our country’s limited resources necessitate a more targeted approach. At Farm Credibly, we have developed a system for determining which farmers are most crucial to our food supply chain. By focusing our efforts on these key producers, we can ensure that our agricultural sector remains resilient and capable of meeting the nation’s food needs. Our focus remains on providing tangible, immediate support that helps farmers recover and thrive despite the challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters.

Our smallholder partners are still reeling from this disaster. We hope that the impact of Beryl leads policymakers and private businesses to develop targeted tech-forward approaches to help build a more resilient agricultural sector that benefits all Jamaicans.

Varun Baker

CEO

Farm Credibly

varun@farmcredibly.com