Project Promoting ICT to Boost Rice Production in Three GMS countries
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (28 July 2004) - ADB has approved a US$1 million grant to help improve food security and the livelihoods of poor farmers in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) http://www.adb.org/GMS/ using information and communications technology (ICT).
The grant, from the Japan Fund for Information and Communications Technology (JFICT), financed by the Government of Japan, will help boost rice production in Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. It will provide better access to market price information to enable producers to increase their incomes by using ICT to disseminate agricultural information on production techniques and global best practices. http://www.adb.org/Documents/News/2001/nr2001079.asp
The TA will adapt and translate materials from the Rice Knowledge Bank (RKB) of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to meet the needs of local farmers. The RKB will also serve local agricultural extension workers, information facilitators, nongovernment organizations, and other institutions. http://www.adb.org/NGOs/
“ICT offers powerful new ways to capture, present, and disseminate the wealth of knowledge available”, says C.R. Rajendran, Director of ADB's Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Division for the Mekong.
“However, most poor and small-scale farmers are unable to access such information available through ICT due to language barriers, lack of tools, and lack of knowledge about existing information. Also, they may be overwhelmed and intimidated by ICT.”
Rice, a staple crop of the three countries, is particularly important for the poor and small-scale landholders, most of whom live in rural areas and are dependent on agriculture. It is already a major export from Viet Nam and there is potential for export from Cambodia in the future.
Agricultural extension workers and civil society organizations that work with and support these poor farmers to improve agricultural production techniques often have limited knowledge of global best practices. They also usually have little experience in applying information available through ICT at the local level.
“This knowledge gap and limitations constrain farming options and efficiency, and, ultimately, have a negative effect on production levels, income of the poor, and on the environment”, says Mr. Rajendran.
“These countries need to build and strengthen agricultural information networks to manage and apply information to benefit farmers.”
The grant complements the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction http://www.adb.org/JFPR/ grant for Improving Poor Farmers' Livelihoods through Postharvest Technology approved earlier this year. http://www.adb.org/media/Articles/2004/4441_Cambodia_Viet_Nam_reduce_postharvest_losses/
IRRI is the executing agency for the grant. Governments are contributing $100,000 equivalent and IRRI will add $150,000 toward the total project cost of $1.25 million.
The JFICT was set up in July 2001 with an initial contribution from Japan of ¥1,273.3 million (about $10 million) to harness the potential of ICT and bridge the growing digital divide in Asia and the Pacific.
About ADB http://www.adb.org/media/articles/2002/445_about_adb/
Asian Development Bank http://www.adb.org
Photo courtesy of International Year of Rice 2004 http://www.fao.org/rice2004/index_en.htm
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (28 July 2004) - ADB has approved a US$1 million grant to help improve food security and the livelihoods of poor farmers in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) http://www.adb.org/GMS/ using information and communications technology (ICT).
The grant, from the Japan Fund for Information and Communications Technology (JFICT), financed by the Government of Japan, will help boost rice production in Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. It will provide better access to market price information to enable producers to increase their incomes by using ICT to disseminate agricultural information on production techniques and global best practices. http://www.adb.org/Documents/News/2001/nr2001079.asp
The TA will adapt and translate materials from the Rice Knowledge Bank (RKB) of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to meet the needs of local farmers. The RKB will also serve local agricultural extension workers, information facilitators, nongovernment organizations, and other institutions. http://www.adb.org/NGOs/
“ICT offers powerful new ways to capture, present, and disseminate the wealth of knowledge available”, says C.R. Rajendran, Director of ADB's Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Division for the Mekong.
“However, most poor and small-scale farmers are unable to access such information available through ICT due to language barriers, lack of tools, and lack of knowledge about existing information. Also, they may be overwhelmed and intimidated by ICT.”
Rice, a staple crop of the three countries, is particularly important for the poor and small-scale landholders, most of whom live in rural areas and are dependent on agriculture. It is already a major export from Viet Nam and there is potential for export from Cambodia in the future.
Agricultural extension workers and civil society organizations that work with and support these poor farmers to improve agricultural production techniques often have limited knowledge of global best practices. They also usually have little experience in applying information available through ICT at the local level.
“This knowledge gap and limitations constrain farming options and efficiency, and, ultimately, have a negative effect on production levels, income of the poor, and on the environment”, says Mr. Rajendran.
“These countries need to build and strengthen agricultural information networks to manage and apply information to benefit farmers.”
The grant complements the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction http://www.adb.org/JFPR/ grant for Improving Poor Farmers' Livelihoods through Postharvest Technology approved earlier this year. http://www.adb.org/media/Articles/2004/4441_Cambodia_Viet_Nam_reduce_postharvest_losses/
IRRI is the executing agency for the grant. Governments are contributing $100,000 equivalent and IRRI will add $150,000 toward the total project cost of $1.25 million.
The JFICT was set up in July 2001 with an initial contribution from Japan of ¥1,273.3 million (about $10 million) to harness the potential of ICT and bridge the growing digital divide in Asia and the Pacific.
About ADB http://www.adb.org/media/articles/2002/445_about_adb/
Asian Development Bank http://www.adb.org
Photo courtesy of International Year of Rice 2004 http://www.fao.org/rice2004/index_en.htm