Investing In Georgias Future Through Agricultural Research And Extension

Author : Tugrul Temel
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (137 download)

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Download or read book Georgia ICT Infrastructure and Use in Agriculture written by Tugrul Temel and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study seeks to assess the infrastructure and use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), such as radio, television, printing press, telephony, fax, computers, and the Internet, in national agricultural research organizations in Georgia. It also identifies their needs to improve information flow and management. The specific objectives of the study are: 1. To assess the availability of local, locally adapted, and relevant international information (available electronically or in hardcopy) necessary for the development of improved agriculture research capacity, efficiency, and appropriateness in Georgia; 2. To describe the strengths, potentials, and constraints of the present information and communication capacities (including human resources, knowledge and infrastructures, and relevant communication relationships) and policies and strategies in research and research knowledge transfer (content development, training/education, feedback with society); 3. To compile an inventory of existing and preferred communication tools, channels, and actors; and 4. To identify potential partners for the development of solutions, including, where possible, already active or interested donors. The study draws on data and information collected through three activities. First, visits were made to the following 9 organizations for evaluating their ICT situation: - Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MoAF) - Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GAAS) - Research Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture, and Winemaking (RIHVW) - Research Institute of Farming (RIF) - Research Institute of Plant Protection (RIPP) - Research Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (TECHINFORMI) - Georgian State Agrarian University (GSAU) - Agribusiness University (AU) - Biological Farmers' Association (ELKANA) Second, using a questionnaire, structured interviews were carried out with the representatives of these organizations to gather more detailed data and information on ICT infrastructure and use. Third, along with these interviews, a literature review was conducted on ICT use in agriculture in Georgia. The main observations of the study are as follows. Georgia has a well-established Radio and Television broadcasting network, but its linkage with agricultural development, especially with extension, is extremely weak. Likewise, the use of print media for agricultural development appears to be weak. Telephones are available but their connectivity is poor and unreliable. Personal computers are only for office use. There is significant lack of skills to use computers. Internet connectivity, wherever available, is unaffordable. The use of the Internet is also constrained by lack of foreign language skills. ICT infrastructure in Georgian agricultural organizations and agricultural research system is extremely poor compared to that of their Western counterparts. However, there are few organizations, such as TECHINFORMI, ELKANA, and the MoAF, enjoying a relatively better ICT infrastructure. Available scientific and technical information content related to agricultural research and development is largely obsolete. Flow of hard copy and electronic documents between organizations is limited. Some organizations have linkages to international organizations that enable access to limited international scientific literature. TECHINFORMI, ELKANA, and the MoAF use the Internet for accessing international databases and sharing information through their websites. Most organizations do not have electronic research data management system. The use of ICT in research management is non-existent. Similarly, ICT is not used for extension, except by ELKANA or for education. Manual systems for office administration and project management information exist in all organizations and can be automated if ICT infrastructure, including new skills, is developed. However, its immediate impact on productivity is doubtful because, along with the introduction of ICT, there will be a need for significant structural reforms in the organizations to use ICT effectively. With weak ICT infrastructure in the research organizations, ICT use at the national agricultural research system level, except for telephone use in Tbilisi, is non-existent. This precludes information exchange and sharing through ICT use. The MoAF, however, is relatively better served by ICT in this respect. The Georgian Government has recently prepared an ICT strategy, the implementation of which demands a clear understanding of sectoral priorities and investment. For the agricultural sec-tor, there is still a need to set these priorities. Without these priorities, the focus needed to generate and acquire new information content cannot be established. Considering the lack of clear priorities, targeted investment in ICT infrastructure and use should be in horticulture, viticulture and wine production because of its immediate impact on vitalizing agro-industries. There are international partners, such as the World Bank, FAO, TA-CIS, USAID, foreign universities, and bilateral programs already active in these areas. On the basis of this study, we suggest: - Setting up an Information Center for Horticulture, Viticulture and Wine Making at the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences with support from TECHINFORMI. This Center should organize scientific and technical information related to these topics and, in future, be an agricultural library with a Ňvirtualň, on-line access component. - Generating quality human resources with skills in ICT use and management and foreign languages. The Georgian State Agrarian University will need to strengthen its ICT infrastructure and information base to achieve this. It also has to improve access to international information vital to Georgian agriculture through collaboration and networking with the proposed Information Center. - Encouraging more information platforms for the Georgian agro-industry, such as of ELKANA, that provides market related information to market intermediaries, processors, farmers etc. These platforms should also facilitate linking agricultural research with its public and private stakeholders. This can be done by setting up a fund for capacity development in agricultural information management for the Industry and NGOs.