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| PNGARNet opens up greater learning and information sharing opportunities through broadband technology |
By SENIORL
ANZU of NARI
Information has become an important input
in ever-increasing knowledge-intensive agriculture
. The information needs in Agricultural Research
for Development (AR4D) is increasingly become complex and changing due to
climate change and its impact on agricultural practices; need for rural
non-farm employment and income generation; integrated farming;
agri-entrepreneurial opportunities; access to modern markets, food safety for
consumers and depleting natural resources.
New knowledge based on innovative ideas and
systematic research is a crucial catalytic agent for agricultural and rural
development.
However, the extent of positive impact of
new knowledge depends on how effectively this knowledge is transferred to and
adopted by the farming communities and the end- users.
At the heart of the transfer process is the
information and communication system and its effectiveness in a given
environment.
The use of new tools and systems of
information and communication technology (ICT) thus is of paramount importance
in the development process.
In today’s
information age, new developments in ICT are offering many exciting
opportunities and new challenges in rapid and effective dissemination of
agricultural technologies and knowledge to stakeholders.
The ICT advances are complemented by new
techniques for efficient information and communication management (ICM).
The importance of ICT and ICM has been duly signified through
global platforms in the realisation of the effective application of
e-agriculture in recent years.
In recognition
of these potentials, many national agricultural research systems (NARS) and
agricultural research and development (R&D) organisations in the
Asia-Pacific region have emphasised the use of ICT in agricultural research and
rural development.
The
extension mechanism, which is conventional, mandated to provide necessary
information support to farming community often fail due to a variety of
inherent problems.
Adding
to this is the ever-increasing learning needs of stakeholders that are
continuously changing due to globalisation.
This
is where the applications of ICT in AR4D are offering immense opportunities to
strengthen agricultural extension system all over the world.
The
potential of ICTs is significant in making AR4D more inclusive through highly
targeted and location specific information services; delivery of ICT-enabled
services such as market access, access to export markets, traceability systems,
mobile extension services etc.
To
add to this, the advances like cloud computing, availability of new generation
mobile technology in many developing countries and global information systems
(GIS), ease of web 2.0 technologies and social networking at all levels have
increased opportunities for new ways to share and exchange information and
knowledge with wide range of stakeholders.
It
also led to improve agricultural advisory services and encourage innovative
partnerships in ICM for AR4D for greater impact.
There
are notable ICT attempts in agriculture and rural development which not only
provide lessons on connectivity and device development but also offer more
insights into ICM issues related to digital content development, end-user
needs, policy support, digital intellectual property rights, open access
issues, standards for greater coherence, information and knowledge management,
security of information systems, research in ICT/ICM, socio-economic impact, and
institutional and process interventions to manage all these continuous changes.
This specialised body of knowledge, cutting
across disciplines, opens up great learning opportunities for all stakeholders
in AR4D and it forms a key component to improve their capacities for leveraging
ICT/ICM for AR4D.
There are many success stories
on how ICT has been effectively utilised in rural development.
Experiences have also shown
that ICT initiatives, including on-line agricultural databases, electronic
forums and CD-ROMs, have changed the way the information and knowledge are
managed and communicated.
New public domain software and
applications allow for research information to be digitised.
Audio-visual materials make
transfer and access of information much faster.
In Papua New Guinea, the government
has created the enabling environment with the introduction of the national ICT
policy 2009.
This timely policy sets out a strategic
framework for meeting the government’s objective for the ICT sector.
Key amongst this will be the integrated government
information system – the platform for e-government and governance.
This sets the basis and opens up
opportunity for greater use of ICT/ICM in agricultural and national
development.
The recent
introduction of competition in mobile telephony and establishment of PNG
academic and research network (PNGARNet) company have enhanced increased
communication, research, teaching and learning.
The PNG NARS, in
a new shift, have reorientated their focus to enhance development impact in
their research and development efforts with prominence given to information and
communication as an equally-important function at programme level.
Some
educational and R&D organisations in PNG have on-line access to knowledge
and information exchange using broadband technology and other ICT
tools and techniques.
Many more have
established electronic communication links with like-minders both in country and
abroad, taking advantage of internet and email systems.
With the rapid
growth of cellular telephony and wireless internet technologies, the use of ICT
can be extended to household and individual levels, making it possible for real time communication.
Innovative
actions such as the SMS market information project of the Fresh Produce
Development Agency and the mega EU-funded regional agricultural information system
(RAIS) for the Western Pacific Countries (PNG, Solomon
Islands and Vanuatu) demonstrate the potential application
of ICT/ICM in AR4D.
And traditional
medium through radio, television and newspapers are continuing to be channels
of information and education, with most moving into digitalisation.
The participation by PNG NARS at
inter-regional events has opened up new initiatives and changes in the emerging global alliance in RAIS and
collaborations. Through such collaborative and capacity building activities, a
number of initiatives and resources have been locally developed, such as the PNG
NAIS, an online database information system for the country.
However, how to make ICT/ICM work in rural
areas of PNG is a real challenge.
This is because of typical constraints such
as limited access to remote areas, unreliable infrastructure, high illiteracy
rate, inadequate funding support and high telecommunication costs.
Farmers and key stakeholders need timely
information and decision-making ability.
It
will also require capacity building support to enable them adopt the new ICTs
in a user-friendly manner.
While rural telecommunications can play a
vital role in supporting and providing farm and non-farm livelihoods, access to
markets, education, health services, governance, etc, the cost of connectivity
and its sustainability will continue to be an issue.
At
the same time, farming is the major economic activity in the rural areas and
therefore, agricultural development should be a major consideration in defining
telecommunications strategies.
For ICT to really impact on agriculture and
rural development in PNG, a number of issues require consideration:
·
Policies
relating to telecommunication and information management for agricultural and
rural development should reflect local realities and needs;
·
Need
for rural-based information communication policy framework to give access to
the rural poor (and the illiterate) on a sustainable basis;
·
Resource
allocation to support information services should be appropriate and effective
to meet rapid technological development and demand;
·
Greater
partnerships and collaborations be enhanced with RAIS and NARS based on
institutional arrangements;
·
Relevant
strategies for human resource development in ICT/ICM be developed and
implemented. Need is also to consider
and incorporate gender equity and sensitivity in ICT/ICM;
·
There
is a need to create public-private-community partnerships in agricultural information
delivery and exchange; and
·
Agricultural
policies need to focus on ICT/ICM use, considering initiatives by various
stakeholders, including the private sector and NGOs.
