The Ministry of Agriculture has made it easier for the public to be aware of their services and products by modernising its website.
At the launch on Tuesday of the ministry’s updated website at Savannah Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church, Permanent Secretary Michael King, speaking on behalf of Minister of Agriculture Senator Haynesley Benn, said there were 23 entities that had webpages on the website www.agriculture.gov.bb.
King said some of the entities included those involved in plant protection, meteorology, as well as the plant quarantine section, the veterinary services unit and the fisheries division. The permanent secretary spoke about the freedom to access information on the Net.
“The freedom to browse anywhere and to interact with anyone is sufficient atempt even the most introverted of persons to get on the Internet. “In fact, it is said that Internet users are increasing in numbers at an alarming rate of approximately 50 000 users per day,” he said. King noted there was a cost advantage to establishing a website.
“Designing, printing and disseminating information booklets/brochures can be expensive. With a website, you can instantly publish the same information with regard to contact information, surveys and statistics without the material or delivery costs.” Samuel Inniss, network administrator with the Ministry of Agriculture, gave an overview of the new website, describing it as an excellent tool for communicating.
Inniss said users could delve into sections such as services, knowledge centre and news. The services focused on areas such as cotton, analytical services, food crop research, and plant production. In the knowledge centre, members of the public will be able to view laboratory services, fisheries, irrigation, and so on. (MK)
