NAIS a vital information tool for agriculture development in Papua New Guinea

The PNG National Agricultural Information System (NAIS) is a vital agricultural information source that can support and enhance agricultural development and growth.

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ICT and media to support ag extension in the Pacific

In May 2009, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Land Resources Division organised the second Pacific Extension Summit.

Sixty participants from 17 Pacific Island countries and territories, including some in the northern Pacific, are participating in the week-long gathering of extension and outreach experts with the theme ‘transforming extension and outreach in the Pacific for sustainable development’.

See also this news item in the Fiji Daily Post

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.

Improving AgInfo production and accessibility in the South Pacific

A short article by Danny Hunter in the International Journal of Education and Development using ICT describes how the Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific Project strengthened national capabilities in the production and use of a variety of extension-related ICTs.

Working in 16 Pacific countries, the project:

• compiled and documented surveys of ICT needs assessment for the Pacific region
  
• provided computers, software and other relevant equipment necessary for the production of effective extension materials;
  
• trained staff in desktop publishing and imaging training;
  
• trained library staff and assist in the set-up and cataloguing of libraries within Ministries of Agriculture;
  
• supported Rural Information Resource Centres in Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
  Fiji, Tonga and Kiribati
  
• provided one-to-one video production and editing training
  
• produced 4 generic promotional DVDs covering sustainable agricultural
  technologies tested and verified by the project
  
• produced a television programme in Tonga and weekly radio programmes in several countries that promote and disseminate information and news about agricultural technologies.
  

Tags: agricultural information pacific ICT

Improved access to digitised information in fisheries in the Pacific

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Library and the Marine Resources Division have developed a full text Digital Library which is now available online. This Digital Library will enable users to gain online access to electronic versions (in PDF format) of more than 4300 fisheries and aquaculture-related documents, in French and in English, produced by, for, or in collaboration with SPC.

Search the digital library

Tags: agricultural information fisheries pacific

Innovative rural information practices in Asia and the Pacific

FAO Bangkok recently published the report of an expert meeting in 2005 to advance knowledge about the use of ICTs for agricultural development and rural poverty reduction in Asia and the Pacific. The report gives an account of the presentations and discussions as well as of the recommendations.

A particularly rich element of the report is the synthesis of different sessions and the various presentations:

The keynotes on various aspects of ICT: “ICT in rural development in Asia: new learning and extension opportunities”; and “Strengthening partnerships and participation in rural information networks”.

Session 1 on innovative practices for access and empowerment: “ICTs for promoting gender equality and the advancement of rural women”; and “ICT for grassroots innovation against poverty” (Thailand).

Session 2 on innovative practices for farmers: “The Philippine Farmers’ Information and Technology Services”; “Some initiatives to reduce the digital divide for the rural community in Malaysia”; and “Improving rural dissemination systems in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic”.

Session 3 on innovative practices for rural communities: “ICT in agriculture development in Bhutan”; “Information and communication technology for rural livelihoods in Baan Samkha Thailand”; and “Cyber extension: innovative uses of ICT for agriculture – Case studies from India”.

Session 4 on innovative practices for extension: “ICT application in rural Iran: perspectives and operations of the extension system”; “Digital Extension: an alternative strategy for network extension” (Sri Lanka); and “Selected success stories on agricultural research information systems for rural development in the Asia-Pacific Region”.

Session 5 on innovative practices for education: “ICT and rural development: experiences in China”; and “ICT for open and distance learning: basic principles and best practices in Asia and the Pacific”.

Session 6 on innovative practices for networks: “Networks for lifelong learning and rural poverty reduction in Asia; and “Sustainable rural networking in the Solomon Islands”.

Session 7 on Innovative practices for supporting national development: "Information service practices in rural China”; and “Best ICT infrastructure for the South Pacific countries – USPNet”.

Tags: agricultural information asia pacific ICT