Sudan: A knowledge Exchange

Management System for Strengthening

Rural Community & Poverty Reduction

By

Dr. Abbas Elsir M. Elamin

Mr. Abdelhamid M. Magboul

Introduction: Facts

Reliable agricultural information constitutes a cornerstone in the construction of agricultural development and in the formulation of policies that, relying on valid and scientific basis, are designed to enhance food security and reduce rural poverty.

Information is not knowledge until it is known, and knowledge is not innovation until it is used.

A knowledge exchange system integrates three major functions:

I knowledge generation (Modern knowledge & technology:

NARS, private sector, Traditional knowledge: farmers, herders, rural community)

II Knowledge exchange, and (NARS, extension workers,

universities, policy makers, service providers, community grass rootsagents, NGOs, Private sector etc..)

III Knowledge application(beneficiaries: farmers, herders, rural community)

Dissemination processes:• Training & capacity building: FFS, on-farm Participatory adoption,

out- scaling• ICT: TV & Radio, Workshops & conferences, Websites, Journals &

publications

Introduction: Facts

Key components to the use of information and

communication to fight hunger & poverty

Information content relevant to agricultural and rural development and food security (problem solving & have wide impact);

Innovative mechanisms for information exchange;

Networks made up of formal and informal stakeholders’ associations.

Constraints to knowledge exchange system

Inadequate agricultural research;

Inefficient information and communications management;

Poor linkages between researchers and extension officers;

Diversity of institutions and of the methodologies used;

Lack of coordination and collaboration;

An absence of virtual national networks of agricultural institutions of Ministries of Agriculture and Agricultural Research Centers (MOA/ARC) that can be accessed through a national portal. In this respect, institutional capacity development is required for effective information management and knowledge exchange that is based on stakeholders needs.

Communication challenges

Lack of efficient operational plans coupled with weak institutional set-up and linkages.

No set of common multi-stakeholders’ objectives (Research priorities are not set with the stakeholders)

Mandate of the ARC is limiting (communication with stakeholders’ needs due to inadequate financial, physical and logistical resources

& limited skilled staff)

Accountability to clients/beneficiaries, No clear roles and responsibilities on who is doing what?

Technology transfer and extension (ad & hoc)

ARC engages to a some extent in technology transfer and extension activities (FAO, IFAD, ICARDA,...projects).

Technology transfer in the ARC comprises:

On-Farm trials, Demonstration plots, FFS, Field Days, Traveling workshops, Leaflets, TV & Radio program.

Current situation of a knowledge

exchange system in Sudan

Since early 2001, a non-profit, non-governmental technical professional body was formed called Sudan Internet Society (SIS) with the objective of increasing local internet awareness.

At the ARC level, ARC provides access to its central library to some outside stations through computer-based network that uses telecommunications.

All libraries are freely open to interested users.

Fax and email are increasingly being used by all institutions for communication between field (stations) and the central office (Headquarters).

Current situation …

Research results and annual research reports are produced by research institutions (ARC, National Council for Research, universities (Gezira & Khartoum).

Journal articles are used by technical persons such as researchers, decision makers, postgraduate students and project staff; it is of limited diffusion.

Leaflets and booklets, which provide relatively wider coverage among targeted audience, are produced almost by all of the institutions.

ARC is the principal source of the technical information of leaflets and booklets.

Research institutions suffer from shortage in budget allocated for exchanging knowledge.

Current situation……

Computer databases are available in ARC and NCR.

Databases include Sudanese collection of scientific journals and foreign collection that includes AGORA, TEEAL and ICARDA library.

The respective institutions provide free access to these information sources through computer based network in

each institution.

In addition, ARC & NCR provide photocopies of the available literature (upon request).

The available computer databases in ARC and NCR are mostly used by researchers and post-graduate students in agriculture and rural development.

Current situation …… The bulk of information on these databases is research

results in agriculture and rural development (most institutions are using AGORA database).

The amount of documented Sudanese literature is so limited.

Libraries in higher education institutions provide free access to information, which in most cases contains print materials such as textbooks, journals and university thesis.

Online publishing is limited due to the limited technical capacities of ICM staff in this type of activity.

Only ARC is able to provide abstracts of its journal (Sudan Journal for Agricultural Research) on its web site (www. arcsudan.sd).

FAO , ICARDA , Islamic Development Bank (IDB) & IFAD has played a great role in strengthen staff capacity in the network of technology transfer and extension in Sudan.

Recommendation

Assistance is needed to develop and strengthen the institutional and human

capacities in national agricultural research and extension systems. Capacity

development to facilitate knowledge access and to strengthen stakeholders'

linkages and participation at both national and regional levels.

Mechanism for effective information management and knowledge exchange

in the field of rural and agricultural development.

FAO regional partners such as AARINENA & (ICARDA) can assist

Sudan through Virtual Extension Research Communication Network

(VERCON) which is developed by FAO to strengthen linkages between

extension officers, researchers, farmers and other stakeholders involved in

agricultural and rural development.

Rural and Agricultural Development Communication Network Project

(RADCON) can also be adopted to boost effective information management

and knowledge exchange in rural and agricultural development.

Field days

Training Workshops

FFs

THANK YOU