i-Bulletin 7

8/14/2019 i-Bulletin 7

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promoting a widerappreciation ofinformation andknowledgemanagement foragriculturaldevelopment

generally andspecifically,support for theIICA/CTA

MEAgrISys project.

#7 of 2008

a collaborativeeffort of:

Naitram RamnananCaRAPN member

and:

Diana FrancisTrade Policies and

Negotiations ProgrammeIICA Caribbean Region

enabled by:Technical Centre

for Agricultural andRural Cooperation

(CTA ACP)

The Views expressedherein are not necessarilythose of the CTA and IICA

ininininformation + knowledgeformation + knowledgeformation + knowledgeformation + knowledge ++++partnerships =partnerships =partnerships =partnerships =

practical actions and ppractical actions and ppractical actions and ppractical actions and positiveositiveositiveositive results!results!results!results!Over the years, marketing agencies and produce

boards in the Caribbean participate in

international trade fairs to promote Caribbean

fresh and processed agricultural products. This

has made the Caribbean brand synonymous with flavour

and taste, and Caribbean food products are in high

demand. These trade shows are also meant to stimulate

business by putting buyers in direct contact with suppliers.

However, when buyers place their orders, oftentimes, by

the container-load, oftentimes we find that our suppliers

are only able to manage one or two shipments.

There is just not enough supply!

Our production cannot keep up with both local and

international demands. We have been called 'nations that

produce samples'. We are failing to capitalize on the

Caribbean label. Our competitors appear to be better at

producing to fill the market, consistently, than we are. For

example, Costa Rica has developed a significant business

and trade in organic banana grown in their "Caribbean"

coast, which conditions similar to CARCIOM Caribbean

countries. Information has played an important role in

defining market opportunities and translating that information to the farmers, in

terms of tech packs, packaging and distribution. They have built a new value

chain around bananas, focusing on organic baby foods and organic vinegar

Many CARICOM countries have acres and acres of bananas, and while the Fair

Trade label has grown significantly from when it started, bananas are still being

traded in its original form - as fresh bananas.Agriculture in CARICOM has yet to tap into the immense potential that exists for

fresh, processed and other non-food products and services. On the fresh

produce, there is a rich history and traditional knowledge in root crops that has

remained relatively under-developed. Hot peppers and pumpkin cannot satisfy

international demand; demand for tropical fruits, vegetables and flowers is

growing, but CARICOM producers fail to consistently supply a range of tropica

fruits and vegetables to export markets. Processors also complain that sourcing

local/regional raw material is uncompetitive and unreliable.


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The more successful agri-enterprises, such as, poultry, pork, hybrid vegetables, are all produced from almost

100% imported inputs. Processed products are also being 'manufactured' largely on imported raw materia

content. In spite of the fact that there are several micro and small jams and jellies processors in almost al

CARICOM countries, we import more jams and jellies than we produce. The same goes for fruit juices. This

situation is no different in respect to livestock subsector: Bufalypso, Barbados black belly sheep and the

Jamaican red hope have not attained their full potential, while we cannot meet the demand for the sma

ruminants.

The ability to meeting a demand for any product, whether for an agriculture fresh

produce, cosmetic, or medicine, depends on information. Since it is being said that we live in a

market-driven world, information is the base of sifting out opportunities and making decisions to

capitalize on them. Information It is now well accepted that unimpeded information and knowledge

flows are prerequisite to better technologies, management and organization systems that make

production systems and economies more competitive. As the example, i-bulletin #1 or 2007, aptly

demonstrated that the dasheen farmer has a need for small scale machinery for tillage, fertilization and pest

control operations. But after several decades of ineffective agricultural knowledge and information system

development in agriculture, this farmer's technological needs are unmet.

For agriculture in CARICOM tap into the emerging opportunities for fresh, processed and other non-

food products and services, an effective, integrated and participatory information system is a must.

The 6 previous i-bulletins all focused on a specific link in the value chain in an effort to demonstrate the

importance of information in effective decision-making to business success, and as well the possible good

influence that effective decisions in one part of the value chain can have on the other parts.

TTTTTTTThhhhhhhheeeeeeee rrrrrrrriiiiiiiigggggggghhhhhhhhtttttttt IIIIIIIINNNNNNNNFFFFFFFFOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOONNNNNNNN,,,,,,,, pppppppprrrrrrrroooooooovvvvvvvviiiiiiiiddddddddeeeeeeeedddddddd JJJJJJJJUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTT--------IIIIIIIINNNNNNNN--------TTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEE aaaaaaaannnnnnnndddddddd UUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDD bbbbbbbbyyyyyyyy tttttttthhhhhhhheeeeeeee rrrrrrrriiiiiiiigggggggghhhhhhhhtttttttt PPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEE,,,,,,,, iiiiiiiissssssss

ccccccccrrrrrrrriiiiiiiittttttttiiiiiiiiccccccccaaaaaaaallllllll ttttttttoooooooo eeeeeeeennnnnnnnaaaaaaaabbbbbbbblllllllliiiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggggg tttttttthhhhhhhheeeeeeee pppppppprrrrrrrriiiiiiiivvvvvvvvaaaaaaaatttttttteeeeeeee sssssssseeeeeeeeccccccccttttttttoooooooorrrrrrrr,,,,,,,, iiiiiiiinnnnnnnncccccccclllllllluuuuuuuuddddddddiiiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggggg ffffffffaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrssssssss,,,,,,,, ttttttttoooooooo ttttttttaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkeeeeeeee pppppppprrrrrrrraaaaaaaaccccccccttttttttiiiiiiiiccccccccaaaaaaaallllllll AAAAAAAACCCCCCCCTTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNSSSSSSSS

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mmmmmmmmaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeetttttttt ddddddddeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmaaaaaaaannnnnnnnddddddddssssssss iiiiiiiinnnnnnnn aaaaaaaa rrrrrrrreeeeeeeelllllllliiiiiiiiaaaaaaaabbbbbbbblllllllleeeeeeee mmmmmmmmaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeerrrrrrrr........

Making information work for agriculture wilenhance the knowledge base for decision making and leadto practical actions and consequently positive results. Thisis essential in modern agriculture. Agricultural informationsystems need to be built to meet the real informationneeds of decision makers, to foster true partnerships

among participants for the system to work, and to feedback credible information to stakeholders, intheir own language and at the time they need it. Several public (including Ministries of Agriculture) andprivate sector organizations (including commodity industries) are exploring ways to strengthen theirinformation and knowledge management systems as a major factor in either achieving an/or enhancingcompetitive advantage. An integrated approach is central to this process.

ThisThisThisThis i----bulletibulletibulletibulletin issue features a comprehensive system addresses the Agricultural Knowledge andn issue features a comprehensive system addresses the Agricultural Knowledge andn issue features a comprehensive system addresses the Agricultural Knowledge andn issue features a comprehensive system addresses the Agricultural Knowledge and

Information System (AKIS)Information System (AKIS)Information System (AKIS)Information System (AKIS) as a new concept and analytical tool in examining how we address the problems

that are confronting us and leading to the general decline in agriculture

.IInnffoorrmmaattiioonnaanndd tthheeAAggrriiccuullttuurraallDDeevveellooppmmeennttAAggeennddaa -- TThhee BBiiggggeerr PPiiccttuurree!!


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ExplainingExplainingExplainingExplaining AKISAKISAKISAKISAn Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) compriseAn Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) compriseAn Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) compriseAn Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) comprisessss the institutions andthe institutions andthe institutions andthe institutions and

individualsindividualsindividualsindividuals,,,, and identifand identifand identifand identifiesiesiesies the knowledge, experiences and information they possess tothe knowledge, experiences and information they possess tothe knowledge, experiences and information they possess tothe knowledge, experiences and information they possess to

supportsupportsupportsupport decision making in all link of the agriculture valuedecision making in all link of the agriculture valuedecision making in all link of the agriculture valuedecision making in all link of the agriculture value chain, from farm to market.chain, from farm to market.chain, from farm to market.chain, from farm to market.

AKISAKISAKISAKIS:::: the set of organisthe set of organisthe set of organisthe set of organisaaaations and/or personstions and/or personstions and/or personstions and/or persons and the links and interactions between them thatand the links and interactions between them thatand the links and interactions between them thatand the links and interactions between them that

are engaged in, or manage such processes as the anticipation, generation, transformation,are engaged in, or manage such processes as the anticipation, generation, transformation,are engaged in, or manage such processes as the anticipation, generation, transformation,are engaged in, or manage such processes as the anticipation, generation, transformation,

transmission, storage, retrieval, integratransmission, storage, retrieval, integratransmission, storage, retrieval, integratransmission, storage, retrieval, integration, diffusion and utilization of agricultural knowledgetion, diffusion and utilization of agricultural knowledgetion, diffusion and utilization of agricultural knowledgetion, diffusion and utilization of agricultural knowledge

and information, whand information, whand information, whand information, which potentially work synergicallich potentially work synergicallich potentially work synergicallich potentially work synergically to support dy to support dy to support dy to support decision making, problemecision making, problemecision making, problemecision making, problem

solvingsolvingsolvingsolving and innovation in agriculture or a domain thereof.and innovation in agriculture or a domain thereof.and innovation in agriculture or a domain thereof.and innovation in agriculture or a domain thereof.1111

This approach makes a concerted effort to understand and improve existing configurations of agricultura

institutions and design better ones. It came about largely to address the situation where agricultura

developers, planners and policy makers were inclined, partly for reason of institutional politics, to view

farming systems, extension, development of agricultural technologies, research and policy making as separate

spheres, each with their own set of issues, managed by groups of researchers and professionals who overlap

only marginally. The AKIS cThe AKIS cThe AKIS cThe AKIS concept represents a shiftoncept represents a shiftoncept represents a shiftoncept represents a shift and visualizesand visualizesand visualizesand visualizes major players of anmajor players of anmajor players of anmajor players of an

agricultural system asagricultural system asagricultural system asagricultural system as aaaa closely integrated and linked systemclosely integrated and linked systemclosely integrated and linked systemclosely integrated and linked system. This represents both a historical and

conceptual progression from treating various institutions and practices, such as, Farming Systems

Development, Extension, and Research, individually, as opposed to parts of a whole, where decisions taken in

one area, affects outcomes in another within a system. A systemic approach demands that we treat with al

elements as an agricultural knowledge and information system. The Caribbean needs to advance along this

path to achieve integrated and sustainable development in agriculture and rural communities.

Examining the knowledge generation processes in successful multinational companies, public service

organizations, among others, strongly supports the notion that knowledge processes can be effectively

managed through an AKIS. Using AKIS as a base can assist in identifying opportunities to enhance the way key

stakeholders are organised in the existing network of players for the purpose of knowledge generation and

information exchange. It can also contribute to enhancing awareness of the process of agricultural innovation

and information exchange. If well developed, an AKIS can also support the identification of ways to create this

elusive enabling environment by allowing for the bigger picture to be clearly visible. This will in turn

engender greater commitment and collaboration among actors who may then be more inclined to remove

these constraints or contribute to an improvement in the systems performance. AKIS provides the mechanism

for the two-way flow of information and knowledge to facilitate the development of policies, technologies and

other elements that can have positive impacts on agricultural development.

The typical information environment in the Caribbean can best be described as comprising pockets of

information systems, that in many instances, have little or no linkages between them or to other systems. For

example, a pocket of information may exist for livestock, with further sub-systems for the various types of

livestock produced, such as, dairy, beef, small ruminants, pork, poultry, rabbits, aquaculture and other types

of livestock. The Ministry of Agriculture, Research Institutions, Development and other service organizations

1 Roling, N. and P. G.H. Engel (1991) *The development of the concept of agricultural knowledge and information systems (AKIS)

Implications for extension. In W.M. Rivera and D.J. Gustafson (eds) Agricultural Extension: Worldwide institutional and evolution and

forces for change. Elsevier, Amsterdam.


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generally tend to have broad information and knowledge on these various sub-systems. However the specifics

of data, information and knowledge on these various systems are held by the farmers and their representative

association, such as, the dairy farmers association or the poultry association. An AKIS provides the tools and

mechanisms to provide coordination and linkages of these information pockets in the context of a broader

development objective and information need. When all the players in the system are well documented and

linked an AKIS acts like a road map, detailing the route to the type of information required that enables good

decisions and practical actions.

A typical AKISA typical AKISA typical AKISA typical AKIS

Agriculture is an activity and a sector that pervades the entire society therefore systems that contain

information on agriculture is complex. Especially since the public sector has dominated the production and

marketing of a majority of activities in agriculture, this makes it even more complex, with the information

widely dispersed over many ministries, statutory authorities, non-governmental organizations, internationa

and regional bodies. Among the various Government Ministries with important pieces of information are the

Ministry of Agriculture, which generates and documents governments policy, which includes incentives

systems, general information and technical information for production and marketing. Ministries of Health

have the mandates for matters pertaining to food safety. They would also have critical information pertaining

to the status of nutrition and nutritional needs of the population that needs to be fed back into productiondecisions. Ministries of Legal Affairs are responsible for issues of land ownership and laws that govern the

sector. They also have valuable information that can be used to make effective decisions on addressing issues

related to risks, such as, praedial larceny. Ministries of Works or local government have information on the

status of access roads, rural bridges. Ministries of Public Utilities have information on the status of electricity

telecommunications and water in rural communities. Other Ministries that are responsible for investmen

promotion, human resource development, through education and skills training, poverty reduction

programmes, trade information, regulations governing trade, etc., all hold information that is vital to effective

decision-making in agriculture. The types of information that they manage has to be known and made

accessible through an AKIS.

Other important elements of an AKIS includeOther important elements of an AKIS includeOther important elements of an AKIS includeOther important elements of an AKIS include Libraries and Documentation Centres, which contain valuable

collections of useful information. These Centres are found in most agricultural departments, research

organizations, projects management units, laboratories, etc. However, often these are not well catalogued and

managed and hence even known to exist. This cannot be good for modern agriculture. Marketing Boards

generally have useful information on all aspects of markets and marketing requirements. Their knowledge

management systems need to be greatly improved. Training institutions, such as, universities and other

diploma granting colleges, secondary schools, farmers training centres among other training organizations al

have useful information as part of their various training programmes as well as projects and research

conducted by students. Farmers organizations are the best source of information on indigenous knowledge

and local conditions. Typically, they have not focussed on developing knowledge management capacities; this

needs to change, urgently and fast! Other private sector or business organizations have qualitative information

on production and trade with respect to the entire value chain. This needs to be integrated into a system.

Weak information systems were identified as a key binding constraint to the development of the agriculture

system by the regional Initiative to reposition agriculture being led by President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana.

Developing a system such as AKIS at the national level is the most direct and practical way to address this

issue.


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. an information learning process for a difference!

TTTThehehehe MEAgrISysMEAgrISysMEAgrISysMEAgrISys project on Building a Monitoring and

Evaluation Agricultural Information System is managed by

IICA and the CTA to strengthen the quality of information

generated by and used for decision making in agriculture.

IIIIts conceptual basets conceptual basets conceptual basets conceptual base is built on AgRuis built on AgRuis built on AgRuis built on AgRu----matrmatrmatrmatrixixixix that promotesthat promotesthat promotesthat promotes

- an evolved concept of agriculture beyond the farm,food and rural areas;

- a development approach built on full participation,integration and sustainability;

- an expanded concept of information beyond thestatistics andeconomic indicators.

The process startedThe process startedThe process startedThe process started inininin the late 1990sthe late 1990sthe late 1990sthe late 1990s, when IICA, on

behalf of member states led a process to positionagriculture as of strategic importance to sustainable

development in the hemisphere. In 2001, it was included

on the agenda of the Summit of the Americas. At the

2003 Summit, Heads of the State endorsed the Agro Plan

2003-2015 for improving agriculture and rural life and

mandated Ministers of Agriculture to develop appropriate

mechanisms to measure and evaluate progress.

It complements theIt complements theIt complements theIt complements the CCCCARICOMARICOMARICOMARICOM Jagdeo Initiative Jagdeo Initiative Jagdeo Initiative Jagdeo Initiative which is

the current strategy for alleviating 10 Key Binding

Constraints as a critical step in improving agriculture in theCARICOM member states. MEAgrISys will be developed to

enable follow-up and measuring of impact.

ItItItIt is buis buis buis builtiltiltilt onononon 3333 mutuallymutuallymutuallymutually----rererere----enforcing types of informationenforcing types of informationenforcing types of informationenforcing types of information:

- Expectations and opinions of key persons on progressand prospects of major development objectives;

"Expectations move the worldExpectations move the worldExpectations move the worldExpectations move the world"

- Experiences documented in National Reports on themain actions and challenges of countries to achieve

these objectives;

- Performance Indicators that measure results, progressand impact of actions.

It ISIt ISIt ISIt IS aaaa ppppractical approachractical approachractical approachractical approach becausebecausebecausebecause these types of

information are not new; they already exist in national

surveys, annual reports of Ministries and other

organizations. This practical approach allows one include

elements defined by 'expectations'. Other approaches do

not take that into consideration MEAgrISys will try to pull

all types of information together in a common framework

to provide a more holistic analysis of the situation in

agriculture.

It hopes toIt hopes toIt hopes toIt hopes to make a differencemake a differencemake a differencemake a difference and to promoteand to promoteand to promoteand to promote information

as critical to achieving the Vision set for agriculture

MEAgrISys seeks to facilitate the identification, collection

storage, analysis and sharing of that information. Its

success depends on participation of all involved, interested

and affected by developments in agriculture. It is not

intended to address all the deficiencies of the information

environment in agriculture in the Caribbean, but will build

on and add value to some good national efforts.

TThhee BBoottttoomm--LLiinnee

EEaacchh ppeerrssoonn lliivviinngg iinn aa ssoocciieettyy,, wwhheetthheerr aatt ttccoommmmuunniittyy lleevveell,, iinn uurrbbaann cceennttrreess,, oorr iinn mmaacciittiieess,, uusseess iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn aavvaaiillaabbllee ttoo hhiimm//hheerrmmaakkee ppeerrssoonnaall,, pprrooffeessssiioonnaall,, bbuussiinneessss aanndd ootthh

ddeecciissiioonnss.. TThhee ssaammee aapppplliieess iinn aaggrriiccuullttuurree vvaacchhaaiinnss.. EEaacchh ppllaayyeerr iinn tthhee cchhaaiinn iiss,, aatt oonnee ppooiinnttpprroodduucceerr aanndd aa ccoonnssuummeerr.. TThhee ddeecciissiioonnss mmaawwhheenn wweeaarriinngg bbootthh hhaattss aarree iinntteerr--rreellaatteedd aaddeeppeenndd oonn tthhee iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn sseett aavvaaiillaabbllee ttoo tthheemm..

UUssiinngg IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn iiss aa MMUUSSTT!!HHaavviinngg ggoooodd iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn iiss aa RRIIGGHHTT!!

BBuutt wwee ddoo nnoott aallwwaayyss hhaavvee tthhee ssyysstteemmss iinn ppllaaccee tteennssuurree ssuucchh rriigghhttss.. IInn ttooddaayyss iinntteennsseellyy iinntteeggrraatteewwoorrlldd,, tthhee iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn tthhaatt iiss bbeeiinngg ffeedd iinn aallllffoorrmmss,, ffrroomm aallll vvaarriioouuss mmeeddiiaa,, ccaann bbeeoovveerrwwhheellmmiinngg.. WWee aallll ddeeppeenndd oonn eeaacchh ootthheerr ttooffiilltteerr oouutt tthhee ffaaccttss aanndd ffiillll iinn tthhee bbllaannkkss..

TThhee WWee iinn tthhee ssyysstteemm iiss aallll ooffuuss!!

AAllll tthhee iinnddiivviidduuaallss aanndd iinnssttiittuuttiioonnss tthhaattiinnddiivviidduuaallllyy,, hhaavvee ccrriittiiccaall ffaaccttss aanndd ccaann ffiilllloouurr bbllaannkkss..WWee aallll,, ttooggeetthheerr,, mmaakkee uupp tthhee AAKKIISS AAggrriiccuullttuurraall KKnnoowwlleeddggee aanndd IInnffoorrmmaattiioonnSSyysstteemm..

Information binds all of us in the agricultural development process.We all play a role in providing key pieces to fill the agricultureinformation puzzle. Building that puzzle takes partnerships!

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i-Bulletin 7