STATUS OF ICT STRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE AND APPLICATIONS EXISTED TO MANAGE AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS

IN JORDAN

NIDA’ SALEM, JU

HESHAM ATHAMNEH, NCARE

2-4 July 2012, Cairo-Egypt

2

Agricultural biotechnology

Afield of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in agriculture and food production.

More than 281 manuscripts in the field of biotechnology were published.

More than 82 projects. Different aspects: Plant production and

horticulture, Plant protection, food and nutrition and animal production.

3

Current situation of agricultural biotechnology information management The agricultural biotechnology scientific and

technical information, research information, extension and advisory are not completely available and accessible for use.

Research outputs are not available digitally. There is no clear policy to encourage researchers

to publish in open access or high visibility places. Our organizations have not skilled staff to

transform scientific information into different forms which can be used by other stakeholders or general public.

4

continue

No active relationship between researchers, extension programs and farmers, so the resource users can not benefit from the research outputs.

5

What do we need?

We need to disseminate knowledge and information of agricultural biotechnology in appropriate and successful way.

Data management sharing and transferring of information and technology usually are very important.

Establishing and development agricultural biotechnology network at national and regional levels.

6

Why agricultural biotechnology network ?

Inefficient methodology for monitoring the current research activities

Ineffective formulation of research plans Limitation in conducting research that address real

agricultural problems Inefficient use of resources

Lack of cooperation and coordination Conflict of interest Unnecessary competition Work redundancy with consequent lose of resources

7

What are the expected outcomes of Agricultural biotechnology network?

The development of a relevant and effective Agricultural biotechnology network is expected to lead NARIs, MOA and other ministries/ stakeholders to the following outcome: Improve the capacity to access and exchange

agricultural biotechnology information, and to convert it into useful knowledge, as it is very essential for the development objectives of poverty eradication, food security, sustainable development and increased productivity and competitiveness; and

8

continue

Preserve needed resources, make maximize use of the results of other projects and database applications, prevent redundancy and duplication of data and efforts, and ensure maximum co-ordination among various agricultural institutes, programs and personnel for the benefit of agricultural development.

9

National Agricultural Information System

We don’t have Agricultural Biotechnology Network but we have

National Agricultural Information System

NAIS

10

What is NAIS?

National Agricultural Information System (NAIS) is a national platform for Information and knowledge sharing and exchange for Agricultural Research and Development (ARD) for target groups and stakeholders in the country.

11

What is NAIS?

It is a Web based information system aimed at capturing and disseminating information about: Research institutions Researchers of those institutions Publications issued by those researchers Projects done or currently active Other Agricultural information modules

It consists of: Back end that enables data management Front end that enables data browsing and searching

12

What are the objectives of NAIS?

To strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders to establish an effective and efficient information system that will support agricultural development and ensure food security at a country level, based on the needs and demands of its stakeholders and integrating the various resources in the MOA and NARIs

13

What are the objectives of NAIS?

To serve as an information and knowledge exchange mechanism at the national level and a gateway to the national knowledge systems for Agricultural Research and Development (ARD) at a country level, aiming for strengthening, coordinating, and adding value to initiatives by national programs and regional organizations in order to increase agricultural production and improve food security for the benefit of improving performance of farmers and agrarian businesses. 

14

Who are NAIS stakeholders?

The following groups of stakeholders in the NAIS were identified in a preliminary way, and it was recognized that these groups and their needs and demands needed to be further defined:

15

Who are NAIS stakeholders?

Policy-makers in agriculture and rural development, especially in the MOA and NARIs.

Department heads and professional technical officers within the MOA and NARIs.

Other Ministries related to rural development. Universities and colleges with agriculturally-

related faculties and departments. Farmers’ and producers’ organizations.

16

Who are NAIS stakeholders?

Credit and marketing associations and Chambers of Commerce.

Private sector involved in agricultural and rural development.

Non-Governmental Organizations involved in agricultural development and food security.

Regional and International Organizations involved in agricultural development and food security.

General Public.

17

The application interfaces Back end Interface

The backend components provide the data management functionalities that enable system administrators to input/update/delete data items into the NAIS database. These components are accessible by system administrators only.

Front end Interface The front end components provide the

information browsing and retrieval functionalities, and are available to any site user.

18

http://nais-jordan.gov.jo

19

Users capabilities with front end components

Access

Browse

Search

20

http://nais-jordan.gov.jo

21

Identifying System Modules

NewsNews EventsMeetings

EventsMeetings

Other ModulesOther Modules

Laws and Regulations

Laws and Regulations

Rural WomanRural WomanCountry Reports

Country Reports

Good Practices

Good Practices

Job OpportunityJob OpportunityFacts and Figures

Facts and Figures

ResearchersExperts

ResearchersExperts

InstitutionsInstitutions

NAISSystem Modules

NAISSystem Modules

DocumentsPublications

DocumentsPublications

ProjectsProjects

22

modules

Publications (Documents)

This module keeps track of publications authored by researchers. Each publication has specific data such as abstract, authors, keywords, etc.  

Projects This module keeps track of the projects in which Institutes participate in.Projects are identified by title, funding agents, and objectives.

Experts/Researchers This Module keeps track of the researchers of the MOA, NCARE and Other stakeholder institutions. Each Institute has a number of researchers with varying scientific degrees (Researcher Assistant, Assistant Researcher, Researcher …). Each researcher has specific data such as department s/he belongs to, email, publications …etc.

23

modules

Institutions 

This module presents basic information about institutions in the country such as name, address, goal, achievement…etc.

Rural Woman This module provide information about rural woman concerning Balanced Meal, Old Meal, Daily Meal, Occasion Meal, Food Production, Save Food, Child Disease, Vaccination, News Letters and Associations.

Law and Regulations Module 

It illustrates law and regulations and agreements concerning agriculture. 

24

modules

Collaborative Partners Module

It is concerned about Collaborative partners cooperating with ministry of agriculture as an example financing agricultural projects.

Job Opportunity Module

Job Opportunity allows Ministry of agriculture to announce available jobs needed

Facts and Figures Module

It provides facts and figures about agricultural sectors, agricultural marketing and agricultural statistics.

25

What can users make?

Access

Browse

Search

26

They can access, how?

Open the browser Write in Address :http://nais-jordan.gov.jo The website will be displayed in the

browser Select the Website Language from the

language drop down list

27

They can Browse, what?

They can browse various components of the system

Documents (Publications Module) Projects (Projects Module) Experts (Experts Module) Institutions (Institutions Module)

28

Browsing projects

Access Front End Click Project on the left menu of the

home pageSubmenu will be displayed—All Projects

and Advanced Search Click All ProjectsProjects are categorized by completed

projects

29

Browsing projects

30

Browsing experts

Access Front End Click Experts on the left menu of the

home pageSubmenu will be displayed—All Experts,

Advanced Search and Statistics Click All ExpertsA List of researchers is displayed

31

Browsing experts’ data

Click on one of the researcher’s nameAll such Personal and Technical

Information about that researcher as contact information, department, prizes…Etc, will be displayed .

32

Browsing experts’ statistics

33

Browsing institutions

Access Front End Click Institutions on the left menu of

the home pageThe institutions’ data will be displayed Click XML. Institutions’ data will be displayed in XML

format.

34

Browsing institutions

Click ViewInstitution full record will be displayed Click Internal LinkInternal link related to that institution will

be displayed

35

They can search

The web site user can search Publications, Projects, Experts, News, Meetings and Events

36

Recommendations:

A collaborative system and effective communication, exchange of information and knowledge of agricultural biotechnology

Connect institutional entities in the system and enhance the infrastructure within the different connected institutions

Develop software system

Install software system in institution servers

Building capacities of institution staff on the use of system

Data collection/validation/publishing and feeding to system

Conduct awareness workshops and promote the system

Funding

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION