Promoting the Collection and Dissemination of Information by FFTC
16th Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
An important topic of discussion was the Center's new leaflet project, whereby an international network of coordinators supplies practical technology and research highlights from the region, for publication by the Center each year. All the leaflets are freely available in both printed and electronic form. The practical technology leaflets are intended mainly as an information resource for national extension systems.
The Information Flow in National Extension Systems
A highlight of the meeting were the reports from the leaflet cooperators from eight countries (Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan ROC, Thailand and Vietnam). They reported on the information flow in their national extension systems. This included the institutes which provide the technical information, those which process the information into extension leaflets and videos, and the preferred media for disseminating the information to farmers. They also made many suggestions about how to improve the leaflet project, including the selection of topics and the distribution.
All eight countries are using IT (information technology) for extension, as well as traditional media in their extension work. Several countries have developed a web-based information system for farmers and extension staff. Typically, government websites offer price information and technical advice e.g. how to control important pests and diseases. Vietnam has developed a QA Bank, with frequently asked questions about farming and the answers. Korea has a combined electronic and paper printing system that is capable of disseminating printed leaflets to any part of the country.
All over Asia, governments are promoting the use of IT as a way of providing farmers with up-to-date technical information. For low-income farmers in less industrialized countries, access to IT tends to follow a group approach. The Philippines and Indonesia are a good example of this. Both are large nations made up of thousands of islands.
With this kind of geography, distributing extension materials to farmers is no easy task, especially since most farms are small and there are many regional languages and dialects.
In both countries, the government is promoting the use of information technology for agricultural extension. Indonesia has trained ten farmers in each province to access the Internet, and has given them access to on-line computers. These ten farmers download useful information, and transmit it to their fellow farmers by means of farmers' groups.
In the Philippines, a recent law requires villages which receive government subsidies above a certain level to establish a website or contact with the Internet. Villages which fail to do this by the end of the year may forfeit their subsidy. This gives a strong incentive for rural villages to develop some kind of computer facilities.
Most farmers in Asia do not yet have a computer of their own, but an increasing number of rural villages are acquiring Internet cafes and village Internet centers. For those without Internet access, large amounts of extension materials are being transferred onto CD-ROMs, which are then distributed to extension centers.
Comments on Other FFTC Programs
There was a general feeling that the Center should pay more attention to the demand side of its information services, rather than the supply side. The Center should consider the current situation of farmers, and the technology they need.
In general, they need technology to reduce costs and increase farm incomes, rather than to increase production, since farmers in many countries are facing a market surplus. Farmers in the region also need information on marketing and postharvest, particularly small-scale processing and agroindustry.
The Medium ...
TAC members discussed the media used by FFTC to disseminate information, and the comparative advantages of electronic and paper publications. It was suggested while the use of IT is essential, traditional technology such as print and radio are also valuable.
While the Center should not ignore new developments in IT, it should set up a timetable to assess the value and impact of its IT work in relation to the delivery of information to clients. FFTC should also develop packages of technology (e.g. about specific crops) suitable for use as a CD package.
... and the Message
The Center's programs have always covered a wide range of topics. This broad coverage can be seen as a strength, in that it reflects the full range of activities of small-scale Asian farmers - crop and livestock production, plant protection, marketing and so on. On the other hand, it is sometimes suggested that FFTC should become more specific in its focus. The TAC meeting discussed whether FFTC should become more specific, and if so, how.
There was general agreement that FFTC should not specialize in a particular field of agriculture. Instead, it might focus on the target of its information. Several TAC members felt that the role of FFTC is already unique and specific. There are many international research centers, but very few international centers like FFTC which have an extension function.
TAC members emphasized the importance of assessment of the FFTC programs and activities. This will enable the Center achieve the best possible match between its programs and the information needs of its clients.
Tac Members in 2002
The eleven TAC members are leading scientists and administrators with long experience of Asian agriculture.
JAPAN Dr. Ken-ichi Hayashi, Dr. Toru Nagata
KOREA Dr. Nai-Soo Lee, Dr. Han-Myeong Kim
MALAYSIA Dr. Saharan Haji Anang
PHILIPPINES Dr. Patricio S. Faylon
TAIWAN ROC Dr. Te-Yeh Ku, Dr. Ming-Lai Wang, Dr. Chien-Yih Lin
THAILAND Dr. Chareinsak Rojanaridpiched
VIETNAM Dr. Bui Cach Tuyen
Index of Images
Figure 1 Director Wu of FFTC Addressing the Tac Meeting
Figure 2 Tac Members and Guests Inspect a Crop of Long Yam. Originally a Wild Plant in Taiwan, This Is Now Being Grown As a New Vegetable Crop.
