After making the donation, Phillip Paulwell, the minister of commerce, science and technology, said that the project will assist in making the agricultural sector more efficient.

He said that it will facilitate the redevelopment and expansion of the JAS website, as well as equip all its parish offices with computers, and enabling Internet access.  Farmers will also be able to utilise the service to assist them in their production activities through the procurement and sharing of information.

The Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology is responsible for formalising the disbursement of the funds and implementing the information technology plan.

President of the JAS Senator Norman Grant, who accepted the cheque from Minister Paulwell at Wednesday's monthly board meting, said that the donation was the result of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the Government of Jamaica and the JAS on June 10 this year, in which the government had endorsed the society's management information systems project.

Senator Grant said that the JAS will also establish a farmers' web cafe at its head office at Church Street in Kingston.  He added that when additional funding is available, the JAS will also establish an Internet café at the Denbigh Showground in Clarendon, as a part of the agricultural theme park.

The project will see the JAS redeveloping and expanding its website and having all the JAS parish offices equipped with computers.

Grant said that a detailed annual report will also be provided for the first three years and will outline the benefits of the projects and its impact on the development of the JAS.

The JAS boss added that the farm lobby eventually hopes to introduce Internet cafes to rural towns where adequate telephone service is available and will be having discussions on that proposal with the Ministry of Commerce.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20041008T210000-0500_67345_OBS_JAS_GOES_HI_TECH.asp