AMAMAS: Revolutionizing Farming Practices and Empowering Farmers in Papua New Guinea
In the fertile lands of East and West Sepik, Papua New Guinea, agriculture is not just the backbone of the economy but a way of life for many.
As part of the European Union-funded Programme for Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade (EU-STREIT) in Papua New Guinea, the introduction of the Agricultural Meteorological Advisory Monitoring and Services (AMAMAS) software has brought about a radical transformation in farming practices, ensuring that farmers are better equipped to face the evolving challenges of modern agriculture farming practices.
AMAMAS integrates weather, climate data, and crop information using machine learning to produce seasonal farm advisories. It has become a vital tool to help farmers make informed decisions, ultimately transforming agricultural practices and outcomes.
Transformative impact on farming practices
Before AMAMAS, farmers in East and West Sepik relied heavily on age-old techniques and intuition which were often unsuccessful in the face of unpredictable weather, climate change and evolving agricultural challenges.
The implementation of AMAMAS has led to tangible improvements in farming practices. Farmers report increased crop yields, reduced losses, and more efficient use of resources.
The data-driven approach has also fostered a culture of informed decision-making – for instance, farmers receive recommendations on the optimal planting and harvesting times, pest management strategies, and irrigation schedules – making farming in East and West Sepik more resilient to the challenges posed by climate change.
Impactful implementation
By facilitating the development and deployment of AMAMAS, providing technical expertise, resources, and ongoing support, ITU, through the EU-STREIT project, has ensured that the agricultural tool is robust, user-friendly, and accessible to farmers across the region.
Extensive training sessions were also conducted to familiarize farmers with the technology, ensuring they could leverage its full potential. Through hands-on demonstrations and interactive workshops, farmers learned to interpret the advisories and integrate them into their daily farming practices. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The training sessions were incredibly helpful. I feel more confident in my farming decisions now. AMAMAS has made farming less stressful and more rewarding,” said Anna, a vanilla farmer from West Sepik.
By empowering farmers with knowledge and technology, the software has helped transform agriculture in Papua New Guinea, ensuring food security and enhancing livelihoods. As AMAMAS continues to evolve, its impact will undoubtedly grow, paving the way for a more resilient and prosperous farming community.
This is an ITU Development #DigitalImpactUnlocked story
About the project
Project number: 9PNG20003
Project title: Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea (STREIT PNG)
Description: The European Union under its 11th European Development Fund (EDF) is funding the STREIT PNG project. ITU will carry out its role in implementing the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) component of the STREIT PNG project and will work closely with partner UN agencies and other stakeholders in Papua New Guinea.
Visit the project page for more details.
