Ajit Maru and Valeria PesceGFAR Secretariat

Rome, Italy

ICTs in Agricultural Development ICTs in Agricultural Research for Development

(ARD) Role of ICTs in ARD Framework to assess ICT adoption in ARD Adoption

Infrastructure Information Systems Integration Effective Use

Issues in ICT adoption for ARD Conclusions

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

Television Cable TV

Digital Audio and Videography Telephony and Cellular TelephonyComputer Technology Internet

“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 Management Research assets management

Priority setting and Needs Assessment

Enables provision of customized, relevant, useful information in time at low cost to widely distributed agricultural communities

Can help aggregate small producers virtually for market participation

Helps 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 information

Enables planning through forecasts Enables linking innovation to

agricultural production through sharing information along market chains

Vital for virtually collating NARIs into NARS

Enables efficient use of scientific and technical manpower

Improves research resource use

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

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

IncludingIntellectual

PropertyRights

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,

Myanmar Latin America and Caribbean: Brazil,

Mexico Africa: Egypt, South Africa vs. Mali Central Asia and Caucuses: All countries

Computers now ubiquitous, but efficient use still a problem due to hardware, software, skills and connectivity issue

Effective and Efficient Institute/ Organizational and National System level networked not established in many countries

Internet connectivity is poor and costly and with low bandwidths reducing capacity to access globally available information

Retaining ICT expertise a major problem

ICM systems in most countries still focused on STI information followed by Research Management Information

ICT enabled Extension Information Systems are emerging

Websites 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: Connectivity Content Communication Capacity and Competence Community Participation Capital Investment Collaboration Culture 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 ARD

Lack 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.