.Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help alleviate global poverty. Parts of Africa and Latin America are already using cyber technology to boost agriculture and their economy. Agriculture remains one of the key industries across the Caribbean. Around one-fifth of the Dominican Republic’s workers work in agriculture and the country exports valuable goods, including sugar, bananas, cocoa and rice. Demands for wheat have also accelerated, especially from Haiti, following the uprising crisis. This has paved the way to assist in the reduction of poverty in the Dominican Republic.

About Extreme Poverty in the Dominican Republic

Rates of extreme poverty fell by 10% between 2015 and 2019 but jumped again when the pandemic arrived in 2020. Greater tourism and increased trade with other nations mean that, both internally and externally, poverty in the Dominican Republic has been reduced. The country now has more surplus money to invest in emerging technologies.

AI could come in handy in this area. In Africa, for instance, drones are already being used to detect and prevent poachers. They deliver medical aid and support the conservation of wildlife. Satellites are also being used to improve agricultural yields by understanding shortcomings and adapting plans for farmers to fill these gaps.

Lessons To Be Learned

Since many farmers need more training in advanced agricultural practices, machine learning will eventually come in handy. Cyber technology not only helps to quickly calculate complicated equations but also improves the ease of communication between developing and developed countries. With AI speeding up these processes, less money goes into agricultural work and more funding enters the economy.

The barrier comes in the provision and funding of these technologies. The Dominican Republic has proven itself willing to engage with the next generation of tech by using AI. However, the costs will be high and require greater communication and support from nations with high Human Development Index (HDI) ratings. Embracing e-learning platforms will allow this.

Networking

AI is already being used to boost customer relationships and experiences in the banking sector under the “know your customer” initiative. This process tailors support to the specific needs of customers to provide them with the most relevant support possible. Eight “multiple banks” currently employ AI-generated systems.

A developing ecosystem across the Caribbean is also currently sharing data between multiple economies to overcome generic technological and scientific obstacles. None of this could have been achieved without the benefits of machine learning. With agriculture being such a profitable sector, a growth in exports would create a flourishing economy for the country. Increased connections with other nations would match an accelerated connection to local people.

The Weather Creates Significant Obstacles

Machine learning also warns of volatile weather conditions to help farmers be best informed about how to overcome climate issues. Tackling natural disasters has already been proven a government priority with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility. The facility provides insurance for natural disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones and excessive rainfalls.

Pangu-Weather, the AI model developed by Huawei Cloud in 2023, offers weather forecasts and predictions for the paths of tropical cyclones. This would come in handy in the Dominican Republic, where unpredictable weather conditions often undermine the hard work of agriculturalists. Alternatively, Google has offered a 10-day forecast called GraphCast, which it could roll out to the international market for greater availability.

The way forward is using drones to gather sensor data. This data analyzes natural nutrient levels to understand how quickly crops will grow compared to how quickly they need to grow. Drones can also deliver 3D mapping, warnings of irrigation leaks and a consistent tracker of livestock health.

Final Remark

Impoverished nations have some lessons to learn from Latin America. The Dominican Republic is in control of its cyber technology. It has the highest regional rating on the National Cyber Security Index and a defense system against cyber attacks. This development is the first step to a bright future, where progress has already been made in tackling poverty through cyber technology and can continue to expand the prosperous agricultural sector across the region.

– Lewis Eyre

Lewis is based in Bournemouth, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash