What you will learn
- What Guyana's rice sector has done with drones and mapping
- Practical phone-based uses of AI on the farm and on the boat
- The limits of AI advice for crops, animals and weather
- Why records are the first step
From the koker to the cloud
Farming in Guyana has always depended on knowledge passed down: when to plant, when the trench water is right, how the sky looks before rain. That knowledge is still the most important thing a farmer has. AI and digital tools add a new layer on top: pictures from above, numbers that show patterns, and quick answers on a phone.
What has already happened in rice
In August 2024 the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) closed a programme on precision farming in rice using drone technology. Here is what the official reports said:
- The project was a collaboration between the Government of Guyana, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), China and the GRDB, and was piloted in Regions Two, Three and Six before Region Five was added (Ministry of Agriculture, 6 Aug 2024).
- About US$165,000 was invested, and the Minister said the drone and mapping (GIS) services would be offered to farmers free of cost (same source).
- The GRDB ended up with 12 data analysts and eight certified drone pilots, and more than 350 farmers benefitted (DPI, 6 Aug 2024).
- The officers used the technology to map rice-growing plots, identify the varieties being grown and advise farmers on land levelling, plant health and salinity (same source).
In February 2026, the Minister of Public Service also pointed to work using drones and data analytics to improve crop planning and yields, and said AI would play a part in agriculture (DPI, 18 Feb 2026).
What this means for you: if you plant rice, ask your GRDB extension officer what mapping and drone services are available in your area. Official advice built on real local data is worth more than any general app.
Practical AI uses on the farm
You do not need a drone to start. A phone with a free AI chatbot can help with:
1. Planning
- "Make me a simple planting and spraying calendar for a one-acre kitchen garden of boulanger, bora and pepper, starting in November. Put it in a table."
- "List the costs I need to find out before planting five acres of cash crops."
Then check the timing with your extension officer or neighbours who know your soil and your area.
2. A first opinion on a problem
Some AI tools let you upload a photo of a leaf or fruit and ask "What could be wrong with this plant?" This can give you ideas to look into. But:
- It may name a pest or disease that does not exist in Guyana.
- It may suggest a chemical that is not approved here, or a dose that is unsafe.
- It cannot see the root, the soil or the drainage.
Rule: treat a photo diagnosis as a question to take to an expert, never as an instruction. For pesticides and animal medicines, follow the label and qualified local advice only.
3. Records and money
Ask AI to build you a simple record sheet:
- "Make a table I can print to record each day's harvest: date, crop, quantity, price sold, buyer."
- "Make a table to track my costs: seed, fertiliser, fuel, labour, transport."
After a season, you can type a summary of those numbers (no personal details) into the AI and ask, "Where did I spend the most? Which crop made the best profit per acre?" Check the maths yourself.
4. Selling
Use AI to write a clear post for your produce: what you have, how much, where to collect and how to pay. Check every price before you post.
For fisherfolk
The same ideas apply on the water:
- Use AI to set up a simple catch log: date, area, species, weight, price at the landing site.
- Ask it to help you write clear messages to buyers or a short post listing what you have.
- Ask it to explain a form, a rule or a document in simple words, then confirm with the official agency.
Weather and safety at sea: never rely on a chatbot for weather or sea conditions. Use the official Hydrometeorological Service forecasts and warnings (https://hydromet.gov.gy/) and your local experience. A chatbot does not know what is happening off the coast today.
Why records come first
Every example in this lesson works better with records. Drones and data analysts at GRDB could advise farmers because they mapped the fields first. On a smaller scale, a farmer who has written down three seasons of yields and costs can ask far better questions than one who has to guess. Start with a notebook if you must, then move it into a spreadsheet or a simple app.
What to watch out for
- Fake experts and fake products. Be careful of online sellers using AI-made videos to sell "miracle" fertiliser or seed. See Lesson 7.
- Your data. If an app asks for your exact land location, ID number or bank details, ask why, and read who will see that information. See Lesson 8.
- Foreign advice. Much AI advice is written for other countries, other soils and other seasons.
Key words
- GIS (Geographic Information System): software that makes and analyses maps from data.
- Precision farming: using data to treat each part of a field according to its needs.
- Salinity: how much salt is in the soil or water. Important on the coast.
- Extension officer: a trained adviser who helps farmers with practical problems.