Potencian servicios de información agrícola caribeños via AgInfo News from IAALD
Learning to set agricultural information priorities via AgInfo News from IAALD
Organisations that produce agricultural information often have to satisfy very diverse needs of many categories of users. With limited resources to produce and diffuse this information, they are forced to make choices. CTA recently developed a methodology to help determine priorities for information services and their management.The methodology has been validated, adopted and implemented by a wide range of users in various situations. The Priority Information Themes (PIT) methodology is available online as a web-based self-learning tutorial and as a series of downloadable PowerPoint-based self training materials.The last slide of tutorial 5 summarizes the main issues covered: the rationale for setting priorities; that different target groups and goals may require different types of... Information and Agricultural Progress Blog via AgInfo News from IAALD
En Chile, comienza ciclo 2008 de capacitación IMARK via AgInfo News from IAALD
Profesionales y funcionarios de las Unidades de Información, ligadas al sector silvoagropecuario de Chile, tendrán la oportunidad de aprender procesos, tecnologías para la creación, manejo y difusión de información digital.La Fundación para la Innovación Agraria de Chile (FIA) y la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO), dieron inicio oficial al nuevo ciclo de capacitaciones para el manejo de documentos electrónicos en Bibliotecas Digitales –orientadas al sector silvoagropecuario-, el cual ofrece, por primera vez, una versión para la Región Metropolitana.El objetivo de los Talleres de Capacitación en Gestión de Información Agraria:, es capacitar a los funcionarios a cargo de Unidades de Información que formen parte de la...
Mekong ICT Camp - Day 5 via from the horizon
On the final day, we presented our Information Management track project. It was decided that our project would look into social networking at the camp, so a questionnaire was prepared and distributed, asking various questions about the number of friendship people had before during and after the camp, and the best activities for making [...]...
Update on GFIS - gateway to forest information via AgInfo News from IAALD
Eero Mikkola recently shared news on progress at GFIS: The new gateway was launched in January 2007 and today the gateway has got around 80 information provider partners from around the world who have been creating and linking their RSS feeds and other metadata to the GFIS gateway. The feeds maintained by the partners are harvested by the GFIS gateway daily and the freshest news, events, publications and job announcements are displayed on the entry page in chronological order.The GFIS Coordination Unit and core partners develop the gateway constantly; a GFIS calendar is the latest function which has been added to the gateway. Users can find around 120 coming forest events provided by APAFRI, CBD, CIFOR, EFI, FAO, FFPRI, FRIM, IUFRO and Metla from the GFIS calendar for the moment and... GTZ bulletin on agricultural knowledge sharing via AgInfo News from IAALD
Simone Staiger at the CGIAR draws our attention to a new AGRISERVICE Bulletin of GTZ looking at knowledge management in (agricultural) development cooperation.The special issue (PDF format) has reports from a 2007 workshop.As well as some general articles on KM in organisations, it has some interesting 'agricultural' cases....Knowledge Generation and Facilitation in a National System for Agricultural Innovation (Bolivia)Sustainet, the 'Sustainable Agriculture Information Network' that systematically evaluates, communicates and disseminates successful approaches to and concepts of sustainable agriculture.Multi-Stakeholder Fora for the Management of Mobile Livestock Production Systems (Germany and Niger).Social Networks for Information and Knowledge Management - drawing on experiences from...
Communicating forest science via AgInfo News from IAALD
Forest scientists are a valuable source of information for stakeholders and the media. However, communication between scientists and the other two is often insufficient. Although scientists may learn to communicate better, there is also an increasing demand for 'knowledge brokers.'Forest communication experts from 14 countries met in Freiburg, Germany, 2006 to discuss the most suitable instruments for communicating forest science and give recommendations for specific communication activities of IUFRO. Success means that communication must become a daily task for forest science institutions.Read the meeting reportSee activities of the IUFRO Communicating Forest Science Task ForceTags: agricultural information forestry... Communication strategies in forestry extension via AgInfo News from IAALD
Although published in 2005, the IUFRO/FAO report on Communication Strategies for Multiple Partner Involvement in Forestry Extension explores some topical issues, particularly the shifts in orientation from "transfer of technology towards systems thinking and the facilitation of social and mutual learning among stakeholders.""Communication among participants in extension has become more important than ever."The papers in this report - from developed and developing regions - were presented at an IUFRO Extension Working Party Symposium held in late 2004, and present a wide range of cases on:learning processes and collective action in forestry extension;approaches, tools and methods of extension communication in forestry and agroforestry;information and organizational needs of small-scale...
From wheat to the web via AgInfo News from IAALD
A recent article in Nature profiles the work of green revolution pioneer M. S. Swaminathan as he seeks to bring a new revolution to India's rural areas: A national movement to bring Internet and telecommunications to each of India's 600,000 rural villages.According to the article, Swaminathan believes that ICTs, if properly implemented, will help bridge India's growing urban–rural divide and forge better links between researchers and rural poor people. "Those of us working in agriculture, health and environmental sciences, he says, have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure that we not only do good work, but more importantly, that that work reaches the people for whom it is intended."Tags: agricultural information india...
Farmer information platform launched in East Africa via AgInfo News from IAALD
Recently, the African Insect Science for Food and Health and the Biovision Foundation launched an Internet platform that will give farmers in East Africa free access to information on sustainable control of disease vectors and pests.The INFONET-BioVision Information Platform aims to strengthen sustainable development of farmers and rural communities in Africa by making information on key topics available through an internet platform and other creative solutions and dissemination strategies.According to a story in Business Daily Africa, the new platform is different from other sites and services "because it has been designed with farmers, and their trainers in mind. Our approach has been to see things from their perspective."Tags: agricultural information... KM in forestry research via AgInfo News from IAALD
Beyond classical approaches of knowledge transfer, new ways of communication between scientists and practitioners are emerging. Community building, new technologies, web-based knowledge exchange, peer-to-peer communication, new possibilities of integrating experts into knowledge management (KM), and a new perception of the notion of 'knowledge' and 'expertise' open up the evolving field of knowledge management in forestry.In October 2006, experts in knowledge management met at the international forestXchange conference in Freiburg, Germany, to discuss these issues.As a main result of the conference, an impressive variety of existing KM initiatives and approaches became visible. However, it also became obvious that in many organizations and institutions in forestry a true promotion of KM... Casos exitosos en el uso de TIC para la investigación agropecuaria de América Latina via AgInfo News from IAALD
En el 2007, FORAGRO (Foro de las Américas para la Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico Agropecuario) recolectó varios casos exitosos en el uso de tecnologías de información y comunicación (TIC) en proyectos o programas de investigación agropecuaria e innovación tecnológica.Este esfuerzo formó parte de un proyecto copatrocinado por el Foro Global de Investigación Agrícola (GFAR) como parte de su programa para promover la gestión de información y comunicaciones para la investigación y desarrollo agrícola.El reporte ha sido publicado (en format pdf). Contiene 6 casos exitosos:REDesastres: Una contribución a la gestión de desastres sanitarios en animales y plantasEl Sistema de alerta temprana sobre la roya asiática de la soja, Estado de Paraná, BrasilEl Sistema de... Agricultural ICT success stories from Latin America via AgInfo News from IAALD
In 2007, FORAGRO (Forum for the Americas on Agricultural Research and Technology Development) mobilized several success stories in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) within agricultural research and technological innovation projects or programs.This effort was part of a project co-sponsored by the Global Forum on AgriculturalResearch (GFAR) as part of its program for promoting information and communications management for agricultural research and development.The report has now been published (pdf format). It contains 6 case studies:REDesastres: A Cuban contribution to the management of health disasters involving plants and animalsAn early warning system on Asian soybean rust, Paraná State, BrazilAgricultural Information System for Cauca Valley, Colombia... Forum Tech for Food 2008 : une révolution technologique dans les pays du Sud est en marche ! via AgInfo News from IAALD
Comptes bancaires mobiles, pompes solaires et cartes à puces, suivi de l'évolution de la malnutrition : une révolution technologique dans les pays du Sud est en marche !Aujourd'hui, moins de 5 % des agriculteurs dans le monde ont accès à un compte bancaire, soit parce que les frais sont trop élevés, soit par l'absence de banques. Lors du Forum Tech For Food 2008, Edgardo Herbosa, est venu des Philippines nous montrer la mise en place de services bancaires à coûts réduits grâce à Internet et au téléphone portable. Parmi les nombreuses autres initiatives, le projet Worldwater a démontré que l'alliance de cartes à puces et de pompes à énergie solaire permet de faire face à l'enjeu crucial de l'eau. L'édition 2008 du Forum Tech For Food qui s'est tenue mardi dernier a...
Uso y expectativas de la gestión de información técnica y las TIC en las instituciones de investigación agropecuaria de ALC via AgInfo News from IAALD
El Plan de Mediano Plazo del IICA establece para la Dirección de Liderazgo Técnico y Gestión del Conocimiento en el Área de Tecnología e Innovación como acción prioritaria la promoción de la gestión de información y el conocimiento en apoyo a los procesos de innovación tecnológica. Paralelamente, el Foro de las Américas para la Investigación y el Desarrollo Tecnológico Agropecuario (FORAGRO), tiene dentro de su Plan de Acción 2006-2008 la línea de acción 5 en donde se establecen lineamientos con respecto al fortalecimiento de las capacidades de gestión de información tecnológica agropecuaria.Con el fin de aportar elementos para cumplir con estos objetivos, el IICA se propuso hacer un sondeo en las instituciones vinculadas a la ciencia y tecnología agropecuaria... Surveying information management and ICT use in LAC agricultural research via AgInfo News from IAALD
IICA’s Medium Term Plan establishes as one of the priority actions of the Area of Technology and Innovation, the promotion of information and knowledge management to support technology innovation processes. Similarly, the 2006-2008 Plan of Action of the Forum for the Americas on Agricultural Research and Technology Development (FORAGRO) includes guidelines for enhancing the capacity to manage agricultural technological information.To provide some of the background information needed to achieve those objectives, IICA decided to conduct a survey of the agricultural science and technology institutions that are members of FORAGRO.Targeted at national agricultural research institutes or their equivalent, the survey was designed to ascertain their current practices, capabilities and opinions... Accessing agricultural research information for development via AgInfo News from IAALD
The 2nd Expert Consultation on International Information Systems for Agricultural Science and Technology (IISAST) was held on 23 – 24 September 2007 in FAO, Rome, and organized by seven organizations CGIAR, CTA, DFID (UK), FAO, GFAR, IAALD, and MAE (France).In January 2008, IAALD joined the other partners at the subsequent planning meeting of the initiative to examine ways forward. The partners agreed that a 'manifesto' would be highly beneficial for the initiative, in terms of laying out the substantive agenda that was being addressed. This could act as a common declaration at a global level on collaboration and consistency between various organizations building, supporting, and maintaining information systems in agricultural research for development.After considerable discussion, it...
Mekong ICT Camp - Day 4 via from the horizon
On the fourth day I ran my session on Database Design. As I was only asked to present this session three days previously, I hadn’t had any spare time to put together anything other than an outline and make rough notes. Fortunately this is a topic which I’ve spent far too much time thinking about, [...]...
Mekong ICT Camp - Day 2 via from the horizon
I don’t know how people live-blog from conferences and workshops. When I haven’t been in the various sessions, I’m talking interesting people, and when I’m not doing that I’m exhausted. Hence this rest of the posts about the camp are several days late! I have also been trying to get some work sorted out, and [...]...
Mekong ICT Camp - Day 3 via from the horizon
Day 3 became more interesting, but also further increased my information overload, not only from all the new material which I was being exposed to, but from all the new ideas which it was spawning!
The first session introduced the Visualizing Information for Advocacy booklet, which covered different ways to design information. The booklet was [...]...
Mekong ICT Camp - Day 1 via from the horizon
Today was the first day of the Mekong ICT (Information Communication Technology) Camp which I am attending in Thailand. The camp is for people from Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, and despite that I am neither from this region, nor working in the region, I felt that Indonesia was close enough, and it sounded [...]...
I Found Cynicism at the Bottom of a Fondue Pot via from the horizon
I have definitely suffered from the blogger’s paradox – when times are interesting, there’s no time to blog. And times have been very interesting, which explains why this post is almost a month late.
It actually all started with this blog of mine, through which I managed to attract the attention of Paul Currion, someone who [...]...
Ramadan, Earthquake and Yoga via from the horizon
This Wednesday was the day before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. This makes a huge difference in an Islamic area such as Banda Aceh. From the hours of sunrise to sunset, Muslims must abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex. Typically people will wake up around 4am, before the morning prayers, and take a [...]...
ISCRAM-China Workshop 2007 via from the horizon
I’ve been struggling to find time to update my blog in the aftermath of my trip to China, but I’ve finally got a spare moment. This will be the first post of hopefully many.
The main reason/excuse for this trip was to attend the ISCRAM (Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management) – China Workshop, where [...]...
Online vs. Offline Databases via from the horizon
There is some debate between the merits of Web based “Online” databases verse stand alone “Offline” databases for International NGOs. Online databases store all their information on a central server, while Offline databases store all of their information on the computer of the person using the database. I agree that online databases have a number [...]...
Hans Rosling @ TED via from the horizon
I’m a big fan of the TED (Technology, Engineering, Design), which is an annual conference. Although attendance costs $6000, all of the presentations are available online, and can be downloaded. The latest presentation by Hans Rosling is a gem (It’s 20 minutes long, but well worth it, especially for the surprise at the end). Hans [...]...
Agricultural knowledge and development in a new age and a different world via AgInfo News from IAALD
This paper examines developments and issues regarding agricultural knowledge systems, which affect agricultural development. It covers three purposes. The first is to review the evolution of four international agricultural knowledge frameworks, namely: (1) national agricultural research institutes (NARI); (2) national agricultural research systems (NARS); (3) agricultural knowledge and...
Innovative rural information practices in Asia and the Pacific via AgInfo News from IAALD
FAO Bangkok recently published the report of an expert meeting in 2005 to to advance knowledge about the use of ICT 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...