A Generic Framework to enable ICT use for Agricultural Development

Infusing new information and knowledge in agricultural systems:

A Generic Framework to enable ICT use for Agricultural Development

An experimental cactii field for livestock fodder in Oman

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I illustrate the generic framework of agricultural information systems below.

Each source of agricultural information, the agricultural information organization, has one or more platforms (telephone help desk, web site, e-discussion list) from where it communicates information to users. An information platform is linked to the user community through an information “bus” made up of the physical connection, channel and medium, through which the information travels. This physical link may be a telephone line, cellular network or the wireless Internet connection. The channel may be a help desk, a web site or a radio station. Communication may be through various channels available on the platform using one or more media (text, audio, photography, video, multi-media which may be analogical or digital). The information channel may have different cardinality such as being one to one (Unicasting) or one to many (multicasting, broadcasting). Some platforms use channels that offer many to many communications, for example, electronic discussion forums, teleconferences and video conferences. This is very useful for building social networks that are needed to share information and knowledge for innovation. The communication may be synchronous, communicating with the user simultaneously (such as through a telephone call) through a duplex channel or asynchronous (such as through e-mail). The user community may access information collectively or individually and, in some cases, through one or more information intermediaries. The role of intermediaries, as already indicated is to guide users to the relevant information and facilitate the user to make appropriate decisions.

Significant institutional innovations are needed for facilitating agricultural information access, sharing and exchange using new ICTs through the new, emerging framework of agricultural information systems. For the information organizations (those whose main output is information) that are the source of information, the first innovation is in its vision. Information is an intangible item. This makes designing appropriate processes for its most effective flow and measuring outputs from these processes difficult and complex. Since the information processes in organization are difficult and complex, the organizational structures needed for efficient information processes are equally difficult to design. In recent years, a lot of thought has gone into designing appropriate structures for information organizations. The best information organization is one where there is no hierarchy and is driven by common values of its members.

I illustrate some of the interventions needed for ICTs to be appropriately inducted and used for agricultural information systems in the illustration below. This is in addition to the need for new visions and goals for all agricultural information organizations.

See a video where I explain this model and what in my opinion needs to be done:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?warkmekmjto

This video is by Petr Kosina. I thank Petr for the effort.