Urban Agriculture at Sanaá, Yemen
Infusing new information and knowledge in agricultural systems:
1. A Framework to analyse and understand the process
We need a framework to analyze and understand the infusion of new information and knowledge in agricultural systems.
I use a framework based on identifying who generates the information, the channel and the media through which information flows, the user of the information and the manager of the flow of information between the generator and user. The typology I use for agricultural information is crude as clearly defining the types of this information is difficult.
For me:
Scientific and Technical information is information generated by scientists/researchers and technical experts. It is usually published as scientific and technical papers through journals either in print or electronically. It is mostly used by other scientists and technical experts, teachers, students and extension agents. Information flow of this information is usually managed by information specialists and librarians. It is a well organized system with significant proprietary and commercial interests.
Research Data and information is information generated through experiments, surveys etc by scientists/researchers. It is usually collated in diaries and databases. This data in its raw form is rarely available to those outside the scientific/research team and used only by the team. However, with advances in modelling, simulation, bio-informatics and geo-spatial applications in agriculture, there is an increasing call for access to this data and information. It is usually managed by the scientific/research team that generates the data and information.
Research Management information is that used to manage research projects and includes information on resources available and used for the research project and what were the outputs of the project. This information is generated by the research project manager. Information at the Research Institute level which has several research projects may include information on the scientific and technical personnel involved, their expertise, the resources in terms of time, financial and human capacity involved, the infrastructure such as scientific equipment, laboratories and agricultural land used and the outputs from the research projects such as data sets, reports and scientific publications. In some cases the technology developed, the outcomes of the research and impact assessment is also documented at the project level. At the country level, information about the Institute such as its contact address, domain / mandate of activities etc is included in this category of data. This information is published in Institute and Country reports. The information is used by scientists/researchers and research managers. It is managed by research managers.
Information used for Extension and Education includes information used by extension agents in the field, farmers and producers and sometimes by rural youth studying vocational agriculture. It is generated at the interface between scientist/researchers and technical experts who generate technology and solutions to agricultural problems and those who have expertise in extension and education. This information flows through various channels including pamphlets, brochures, charts, posters, handbooks, audio and video programs, etc, through face to face interactions, print, radio, television, digital media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, the internet and cellular telephony. This information is usually managed by extension agents and agricultural communication managers.
Market related information is information generated and used to effectively produce and market an agricultural product till it is consumed. It includes a wide variety of information related to inputs needed for production of the commodity, information on what to grow, when, how, where, quality and safety standards, consumer preferences, how the produce is to be harvested, processed, packaged, transported and marketed, the potential yields and the financial returns, current and forecasted market prices. This is the most complex of information needed in agricultural systems and is generated by a vast array of actors in agricultural market and value addition chains. This information flows through a wide variety of channels and media including reports, bulletins, guides, web sites etc, through face to face interactions, mass media such as newspapers, radio and television, telephony and the Internet. This information is increasingly being managed by organizations in the public and private sector.
Infrastructure for information management and communications in agricultural systems is an important issue. For me, this infrastructure includes the hardware, the software such as tools and applications, the skills needed for information and communications management and the connectivity for information flows, which includes the availability of channels such as radio and television stations, websites and media.
In my future blogs, I shall try and use this framework to look at current and emerging issues related to each of these types of agricultural information.
