Page 70 - PNM General Election 2020 Manifesto
P. 70
The application of technology in agriculture will and even reduce farming’s impact on the
improve output and reinvent the image of the environment by cutting down distance travelled
farmer, by elevating the status of farming as a in the supply chain
more sustainable career, driven by sophisticated
technologies and increased returns on • Create community supported agriculture
investment. Major technology innovations in the programmes utilizing techniques such as
space have given birth to integrated farming Permaculture/Regenerative/ Integrated/
solutions utilising indoor vertical farming, Biodynamic Farming
automation and robotics, livestock technology,
modern greenhouse practices, precision • Increase education campaigns promoting the
agriculture, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. benefits of locally produced alternatives to cater
to lifestyles such as veganism, gluten-free and
The new vision for Agriculture will be based on pescatarian to reduce the incidence of non-
the following areas: communicable diseases and reduce the burden
on the health care system
CATALYSE BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE ACROSS THE
PRODUCTION-CONSUMPTION CONTINUUM AND
SUPPORT NUTRION-SENSITIVE VALUE CHAIN
INTERVENIONS
To achieve this the PNM will:
• Encourage and support investment in precision
agriculture to allow farmers to maximize yields by
controlling every variable of crop farming such as
moisture levels, pest stress, soil conditions, and
micro-climates
• Promote the use of home gardens using a
combination of growing techniques such as grow • Develop marine aquaculture, due to its reduced
boxes, container farming, homestead vulnerability compared to freshwater
hydroponics, aquaculture/aquaponics, aquaculture, in areas such as molluscs, clams,
aeroponics, to augment the domestic food supply oysters and crustaceans, as well as sea moss
farming, since they are generally having low start-
up and operating costs and require relatively low
technical expertise
INVEST IN PRODUCTIVITY-ORIENTED RESEARCH
AND TECHNOLOGY
• Invest in artificial intelligence driven systems
that build and expand credible agricultural
databases and inform decision making for better
harvests and environmental conditions
• Establish a Centre of Excellence in High-Value
• Incorporate indoor vertical farming methods to and Indigenous Agricultural products to address
increase crop yields, overcome limited land area, the innovation needs of firms operating in the
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PNM THE RIGHT CHOICE ON AUGUST 10 People’s National Movement Manifesto 2020
