Page 37 - Islands Business October 2022

Agriculture and Gigstarter

Building Global Confidence in Pacific Agriculture
The remoteness of many Pacific Island nations is one of the reasons
for their beauty and allure to overseas tourists. However, tourism is not
enough to transform the local economy. Agricultural products are key
exports for many island nations and are being traded within the country.
In the Solomon Islands, for example, 60% of government revenue
is the result of logging royalties, and over 90% of the population are
subsistence cultivators. Many small-hold farmers in the Islands want
to engage in small-scale commercial forestry, helping to promote
economic development and international trade.
However, progress in this area is limited by technological capacity.
Without strong and reliable internet access, it is very difficult for local
farmers to adopt new forestry and agriculture technologies, it is difficult
to understand the range of products on offer globally, and it is difficult
to expand their customer base in untapped markets. Jiwaka Coffee Farm in the remote highlands of PNG connected by Kacific1
Confidence in the Pacific Islands, as an exporter of agricultural
products, will also benefit from strengthened internet access. It will delivering fibre-like speeds at prices at similar prices.
allow overseas customers and importers to communicate more quickly
and frequently, ultimately building better relationships with Pacific Remaining Competitive
producers. Remaining competitive in the global marketplace requires a two-way
In such a geographically isolated region, global trade is essential for flow of information. It requires that producers can locate and market
the development and future success of all Island nations. Agricultural to possible customers, and customers can research potential suppliers,
producers are often inland, away from towns and the reach of existing check the quality of work, the reliability of production, and customer
telecommunications infrastructure. This means that producers of support.
timber or fruits and vegetables are isolated even from their local Without reliable and high-quality internet, remote regions cannot
economy. It makes it harder to transport goods around the country, to even begin to compete on a global scale. By being more connected,
get them to the local markets, and ports or airports, where they can be producers would be able to establish their online presence and stay
shipped overseas. on the pulse of trade deals, new laws, and regulations regarding their
industry and foreign sentiment to improve and sell their products.
Investment in Technology Is the Way Forward
Much of the difficulty in the Pacific region is not just that Pacific Driving Development
nations are quite disconnected from international markets, but that International forums have cited the need for Pacific nations to become
they are also quite disconnected within the country. Rural producers more connected so that governments can receive timely, accurate,
are secluded from local centres, making it very difficult to get terrestrial and comprehensive data to assist in decision-making and actioning
(ground-based) internet connectivity. Also, with the chance of being sustainable development action plans. The clear way to achieve this
cut off from local centres by extreme weather events, a reliable internet is to provide a means of communication and access to databases and
connection – independent of weather or proximity to a town – is software for information sharing.
essential. One example comes from the P-SPAFS initiative (Pacific strategic plan
In remote agricultural or fishing areas, the best way to achieve for agriculture and fisheries statistics), which seeks to develop stronger
connectivity is through the use of satellite internet technology. Pacific nations using reliable and up-to-date statistics. The P-SPAFS
Singapore-based satellite broadband operator, Kacific Broadband committee has said that: “while the agriculture sector is a priority for
Satellites, has developed a solution called Gigstarter. Gigstarter is a development, the delivery of effective governance is hampered by
turn-key solution that uses Ka-band satellite technology from their insufficiently accessible and reliable data” .
newest Kacific1 satellite to reach people in remote locations. Good connectivity could further assist the industry with better access
Setting up with Gigstarter involves installing a small satellite dish, to foreign direct investment, either through private or international
around one meter in diameter on your site, that connects to the Kacific1 agencies. With millions of dollars being committed to the Pacific region
satellite. From just USD570 per terminal, Kacific has lowered the entry by IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) between
cost of owning a satellite dish for their markets by over 40% with new, 2014 and 2025, agricultural infrastructure is slowly developing. Island
compact modems and small terminals compatible with their Ka-band nations in the region can use satellite internet to put themselves and
technology. This provides remote users with high-speed internet their products out there in the global economy, making the most of
regardless of where they are. IFAD’s investment.
A cost-effective service, Gigstarter overcomes the price barriers of Improving internet penetration in rural areas would allow more
micro-markets that could not afford the older and more expensive accurate and timely information to be relayed to government and
technology in the past. Since Kacific1 is a high throughput satellite that international agencies. This would further facilitate development in a
reuses spectrum, it is more efficient and lowers bandwidth cost. Through wide range of areas of the Pacific by way of investment or grants from
internet connectivity, producers in remote areas of the Pacific can carry the government, international bodies, or private organizations.
out research, learn to do maintenance, and expand their businesses. Kacific’s satellite technology provides this fundamental platform for
Kacific has a range of Gigstarter plans that suit residential, small growth and prosperity in rural areas where ground-based technology
businesses and big enterprises. Starting from USD110 per month, can’t effectively reach. Space-based technology will be a major driver in
Gigstarter plans offer speeds ranging from 40Mbps to 120Mbps, connecting Pacific agriculture to the rest of the world.

Learn more about Kacific’s services at www.kacific.com/services/ Sponsored Content
Islands Business, October 2022 37