Ajit Maru and Valeria PesceGFAR Secretariat
Rome, Italy
ICTs in Agricultural DevelopmentICTs in Agricultural Research for Development (ARD)Role of ICTs in ARDFramework to assess ICT adoption in ARDAdoption
InfrastructureInformation SystemsIntegrationEffective Use
Issues in ICT adoption for ARDConclusions
Agriculture is becoming knowledge intensive because of:
the need to participate in globally competitive markets increasing barriers and constraints in accessing agricultural inputs the need to use natural resources sustainably To cope with growing risks from wide climatic fluctuations,
New knowledge is now recognised as the most critical resource for agricultural development.
Information and Communications Management and use of appropriate ICTs in ARD Institutions
Improves agricultural research through sharing and exchange of information and managing research
Rapidly improve agriculture
Benefits Farmers
Radio:Community Radio
TelevisionCable TV
Digital Audio and VideographyTelephony and Cellular TelephonyComputer TechnologyInternet
“success of efforts made towards effective use of ICT (telephone, facsimile/fax, computers, computer networks, Internet, cellular telephony, digital audio and video devices) in ARD”
ICT adoption for ARD occurs as a product of several interacting factors such as:
Policy related to the use of ICT at global, national and Institutional levels for development, Strategy in ICT implementation, status of ICT
infrastructure, especially in rural areas, where most ARD Institutes and Laboratories are located,
Investment both financial and in human skills in ICT use in ARD organizations, accessibility and availability of technology, Ability to implement ICTs in information systems
and effectively generate, manage and use information for agricultural development and progress.
Communications in Research Systems
Scientific and Technical Information
Research Data, Analytical Tools and Applications
Research Management Information
Farm Advisory & Agricultural Extension Information
Agricultural Education and Learning
Agricultural Markets Related (Farm Input and Products)Information
For managing and accessing scientific literature, documents, bibliographies, abstracts, catalogues, indexes and lists
Database M’gmnt
GIS Modeling Knowledge Based
Systems
Genetic Resources M’gmnt
Natural Resources M’gmnt
Plant and Animal Disease Surveillance
Farming Systems M’gmnt
Research Project ManagementResearch assets management
Priority setting and Needs Assessment
Enables provision of customized, relevant, useful information in time at low cost to widely distributed agricultural communitiesCan help aggregate small producers virtually for market participationHelps link researchers and innovators with producers and consumers
Formal, on‐campus educationDistance, continued and life long learning for agricultural professionalsEnabling learning in agricultural communities
Enables small holders to participate more equitably in markets by providing price, quality, quantity, availability, supply and regulatory informationEnables planning through forecastsEnables linking innovation to agricultural production through sharing information along market chains
Vital for virtually collating NARIs into NARSEnables efficient use of scientific and technical manpowerImproves research resource use
Communicationsin Research Systems
Scientific and Technical Information
Research Data, Analytical Tools and Applications
Research Management Information
Farm Advisory & Agricultural Extension Information
Agricultural Education and Learning
Agricultural Markets Related (Farm Input and Products)
Information
Intranets, Tele and Video Conferencing, EDMS
Institute and System Wide ICT Enabled STI Services, OAI, Common Ontology
Common Research Databases, Use inModelling, GIS, KBS
Established RMIS used in Priority Setting and
Research Resource Allocation
Q&A based Farm Advisory Services Pest and Disease Diagnostic Services
Learning Objects Repositories, Online Learning Communities
Market Price InformationFarmer/Producer/Processor/Consumer
Advisory ServicesTraceability Systems
Focus onInfrastructure
Such asRural
Connectivity,Content,Capacity
Focus onOperationalIssues suchAs Systems
Design,Organizational
Structures
Focus onManagement
AndControlIssues
IncludingIntellectual
PropertyRights
Focus onStrategic Use
Issues
Cost
Time
Cost of ICT Implementation
Infrastructure InformationSystems
Coordination Effective Use
Hardware
Software
Skills (Basic Computing, Network Management and ICM)
Connectivity
Networked Information Sharing in Institute/Organization
Intranets
Internet Website and E‐Mail Domain
Institute/Organization level ICM Policy, Strategy, Standards, Rules, Norms
ARD System Wide Policies and Strategy
Adoption of International /Global Standards
Common Information and Information System Security and Intellectual Property Rights Adoption
Centralized ICM Coordination Unit at System Level
Information Systems based on Client Needs
Established Learning Communities to use ICT enabled Information Systems
Use of Interactive Tools and Applications in Information Systems
Communications In Research Systems
Scientific and Technical Information
Research Data, Analytical Tools and Applications
Research Management Information
Farm Advisory & Agricultural Extension Information
Agricultural Education and Learning
Agricultural Markets Related (Farm Input and Products)
Information
Focus onInfrastructure
Such asRural
Connectivity,Content,Capacity
Focus onOperationalIssues suchAs Systems
Design,Organizational
Structures
Focus onManagement
AndControlIssues
IncludingIntellectualProperty
Rights
Focus onStrategic Use
Issues
Cost of ICT Implementation
Indicators
Immense heterogeneity in ICT adoption in national ARD systems across regions and globally come to the fore:Asia : Japan, Taiwan vs. Cambodia, MyanmarLatin America and Caribbean: Brazil, Mexico Africa: Egypt, South Africa vs. MaliCentral Asia and Caucuses: All countries
Computers now ubiquitous, but efficient use still a problem due to hardware, software, skills and connectivity issueEffective and Efficient Institute/ Organizational and National System level networked not established in many countriesInternet connectivity is poor and costly and with low bandwidths reducing capacity to access globally available informationRetaining ICT expertise a major problem
ICM systems in most countries still focused on STI information followed by Research Management InformationICT enabled Extension Information Systems are emergingWebsites still not well developed
Information systems coordination in ARD Systems is a daunting task as this area has not yet evolved into a “discipline”
ARD information systems development is nascent
Effective use of Information from ICT enabled Information Systems a major concern
Key Issues to be addressed:ConnectivityContentCommunicationCapacity and CompetenceCommunity ParticipationCapital InvestmentCollaborationCulture of Organizations
There is a need for National policies and strategies to be in place for ICT use in agricultural development for effective ICT adoption in ARD systems.Significant increases and improvement in investment, both financial and in human capacities, is required in ICT enabled information systems for ARDLack of relevant and useful content is a major constraint to ICT adoption for agricultural development. Investment in ARD systems can lead to generation of this content. In developing countries this investment has to be through the public sector and government as agricultural information is largely a public good.
There is a severe shortage of appropriate capacities to plan and use ICTs effectively for ARD and agricultural development. There is significant lack of integration and coherence in information systems at organization/Institute, National, Regional and Global levels and across agricultural themes, disciplines and commodity related information that enables successful ICT adoption to benefit agricultural development.
There is inadequate institutional response, especially by agricultural research and extension agencies, in governing the flow of information to benefit agricultural communities especially in developing countries.
This is illustrated by the lack of donor support for improving agricultural information and communications management at global and national levels, lack of national policies and investment in improving the state of agricultural information access and use and inadequate global, regional and national institutions related to information and knowledge availability, access and use for agricultural development.
Strengthen the capacity of NARS leaders to advocate,articulate appropriate policies and strategies, attract more resources and greater investment for further development of ICT enabled NAIS and lead further development of agricultural information systems (AIS)
Develop capacity, in terms of infrastructure, institutions and human skills, among stakeholders to ARD to create, manage, share, exchange and use scientific and technical information, technology related information, research and research management information, extension, outreach and market information etc. for agricultural innovation and development;
Bring about greater integration of national and regional agricultural information systems and easier access to them, especially websites, through an ARD Web Ring and cohesive activities for improved management and more seamless sharing and exchange of information, experience and knowledge in agricultural information management through a Knowledge Network
Establish appropriate governance structures such as task forces and steering committees for global, regional and sub‐regional AIS of GFAR, Regional and Sub‐regional Forums to promote and support more equitable access, sharing and exchange of agricultural information through ICT enabled AIS.