Aginfo directories and web rings: News from GFAR

The latest issue of the GFAR Newsletter includes updates on recent Global Forum activities on information and communication management.

With FAO, GFAR is working on a distributed approach based on metadata exchange to build different types of global Directories, or Registries describing organizations, projects, projects outputs (documents) and experts, as well as news and events.

As part of the CIARD Initiative, GFAR is also leading the establishment of a Global ARD Web Ring - a “voluntary coalition of web spaces that share information related to agricultural research and innovation for development.”

Demand-driven agricultural advisory services

The first Common Framework on Agricultural Extension for the Neuchatel Initiative suggests a new pluralistic approach to extension delivery, which breaks away from earlier focus on technology transfer. This includes an increased emphasis on private suppliers of services and a change of attitude towards agricultural producers, who are seen as clients capable of demanding the services they need, rather than being mere beneficiaries.

This framework provides policy guidelines on how best to support development of demand driven agricultural advisory services and also on the appropriate roles of the different actors.

Agricultural advisory services are defined as services that make new knowledge
available to farmers and assist the farmers to develop their farming and management skills. The services may include:

• Dissemination of information
• Training and advice of groups of farmers or individual farmers
• Testing new technologies on-farm
  
• Development and dissemination of farm management tools

Services de conseils agricoles pilotés par la demande

La première note de cadrage conjointe sur la vulgarisation agricole de l’Ini­tiative de Neuchâtel suggérait une nouvelle approche pluraliste pour la vulgarisa­tion agricole rompant avec l’habitude de mettre l’accent sur les transferts de technologies. Cette nouvelle approche accordait une place plus impor­tante aux prestataires privés et soulignait l’importance de changer d’attitude envers les producteurs agricoles, désormais considérés non plus comme des bénéficiaires, mais comme des clients capables de demander les ser­vices dont ils ont besoin.

La présente note de cadrage propose des orientations sur la meilleure manière de développer les services de conseils agricoles orientés par la demande et sur le rôle de chacun des différents acteurs.

Les services de conseils agricoles sont définis comme des services qui mettent de nouvelles connaissances à la disposition des agriculteurs et les aident à améliorer leurs compétences en termes d’agriculture et de gestion. Ce sont par exemple des services comme :

• la diffusion d’informations
• la formation et les conseils dispensés aux agriculteurs à titre individuel ou collectif
• l’essai de nouvelles technologies dans les exploitations
• le développement et la diffusion d’outils de gestion agricole

Outsourcing agricultural advisory services in Africa

The Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) just published a new Bulletin on Outsourcing agricultural advisory services: Enhancing rural innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

It starts from the perspective of "Ms Kanaga, a dynamic east-African farmer in her late thirties. She started cultivating rice during the last growing season. But before becoming involved in this new agricultural enterprise, she spoke with her neighbours, who had recently introduced rice into their farming system; she also spoke with the Village Women’s Farmer Group, the local extension worker, the local credit and savings bank, the local materials supplier, and an NGO focused on enterprise development. And she listened to a local radio programme on agriculture. At that point she became slightly confused because the information from these various sources was not always the same."

Clearly, "information on agricultural activities can be confusing or contradictory, and requires a lot of perseverance to obtain. A recent trend is that agricultural advisory services are sometimes ‘outsourced’, or ‘contracted out’. Since outsourcing advisory services is rather new, not much is known about how it can best be implemented or the conditions under which it is helpful. This bulletin discusses several cases concerning extension outsourcing so that we can learn how it can benefit farmers like Ms Kanaga."

The report contains findings and lessons learned from case studies in Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda and Mali.

Servicios de extensión agraria orientados a la demanda

En 1999 se publicó el primer marco conjunto sobre extensión agraria para la Iniciativa de Neuchâtel – Apuntes para una mirada conjunta sobre la extensión agricola. El nuevo enfoque hace mayor hincapié en los proveedores de servicios privados y en el cambio de actitud frente a los productores agrarios que, más que meros beneficiarios, se consideran clientes capaces de demandar los servicios que requieren.

El marco examina los mecanismos a través de los cuales los pequeños y medianos agricultores presentan sus demandas y acceden así a los servicios que necesitan. Proporciona directrices de política sobre cómo apoyar óptimamente el desarrollo de los servicios de extensión agraria orientados a la demanda y también sobre la función que deben desempeñar los diferentes actores.

Los servicios de extensión agraria se definen como aquellos que ponen a disposición de los agricultores nuevos conocimientos y les ayudan a desarrollar su capacidad de producción agraria y gestión. En el marco se utilizan con un mismo significado los términos “servicios de extensión” y “extensión”. Dichos servicios pueden incluir:

• Difusión de información
• Capacitación y asesoramiento para grupos de agricultores o agricultores individuales
• Puesta a prueba de nuevas tecnologías en explotaciones agrarias
• Desarrollo y difusión de instrumentos de gestión de explotaciones agrarias

Managing AgResearch information in Asia-Pacific

In April 2008, organizations participating in the Asia-Pacific Agricultural Research Information System (APARIS) met in Bangkok. The meeting report is now available.

In his introductory remarks, GFAR's Ajit Maru explained that the "main objective of the current workshop was to apply a de-centralized networking approach at regional level through APARIS and its linkages with the National Agricultural Information Systems (NAIS) of the Asia-Pacific using newly available tools/applications/frameworks such as RSS feeds, AgriFeeds, and CIARD."

The report has information on each of the main sessions of the workshop; the major recommendations of the plenary session include:

• Agreed upon standards are a pre-requisite for efficient sharing of research information among all stakeholders.
  
• New tools/frameworks such as Global Web Ring, AgriOrg, SIST, RAEL, ARDGateway, RSS Feeds, and AgriFeeds should be integrated at national and regional levels. CIARD as a global advocacy agenda for stronger national public information systems in agriculture could be a source of support for these initiatives.
  
• APARIS should continue its advocacy efforts for greater sensitization of NARS leaders and senior managers.
  
• A Persistent theme is the issue of knowledge documentation and its dissemination to small-scale farmers through a variety of ARD Information Systems.
  
• APARIS and NAIS should promote the use of all ICTs, including Radio, TV, mobile phones, CD-ROMS, Internet, call-centers, and print-publications as diverse agricultural extension situations require matching technologies.

IAALD Africa chapter web site re-launched

IAALD's Africa Chapter recently launched a completely renewed web site. The site introduces the chapter's activities, leadership, and priorities.

The first call for proposals for the Chapter's 2009 conference in Ghana is also available.

Sharing knowledge the ALIN way

In Johannesburg last week for a series of workshops on intermediary roles in research, we caught up with James Nguo of the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN).

In a short interview, he explains how ALIN works with youth, connecting ICTs and local communities:

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He also explains how ALIN was engaged in the Open Knowledge Network (OKN) and the continuing legacy...

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Check out the ALIN website at www.alin.or.ke

AgInfo networks important to maximise access to information

Under the banner 'Network Yourself!', Rabobank's Dan Cherubin recently explained how important it is for library and information professionals to get into networks.

At the 2008 USAIN meeting, we asked Dan to reflect briefly on the value of groups like USAIN, SLA/FAN ... and ultimately IAALD.

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See Dan's presentation to USAIN's 2008 Conference: Biofuel in the Bank Library: CSR vs. Bottom Line.

Looking for AgInfo groups to join, we list a few here.

Getting web 2 into use in agricultural research

IFPRI's Pete Shelton shares three lessons from IFPRI efforts to get its researchers to use web 2.0 tools:

1. Focus on the job, not the tool.
2. Researchers like hearing from other researchers.
3. Don’t assume you know what researchers need - go out and ask them!

The full posting explains the stories behind the lessons ...