Wireless: a help line for agricultural development?
Report of the 4th Consultative Expert meeting of CTA's
Observatory on ICTs
Rutger Engelhard
July 2001
Working document series no. 8024
Executive Summary
On 31 May and 1 June 2001, CTA convened its annual Consultative Expert
Meeting of its Observatory on ICTs for Agricultural Development in ACP
countries (www.agricta.org/observatory). The meeting focused on an exploration
of the feasibility of wireless ICT applications for two-way access to
the Internet via satellite and re-visited a strategic model of an Information
Communication Management (ICM) framework for CTA and its partners in ACP
countries which it developed at the Observatory 2000 meeting.
While increasing connectivity is continuing apace throughout ACP countries,
this development is uneven and often slow and lags far behind the developed
North. For this reason, the appearance of affordable wireless ICT applications
presents a very real opportunity to overcome the existing poor connectivity
in ACP countries.
The meeting examined the different wireless ICTs available and their
possible implementation within the model of the ICM framework. The meeting
looked in particular at a new generation of high-tech, small-scale and
simple to use systems for two-way access to the Internet via satellite
which are now entering the market.
The meeting concluded that these systems represent technically feasible
and affordable solutions for the current connectivity restrictions faced
by most of CTA's partners and recommended that CTA and its partners start
to explore - in operational terms - the feasibility of these systems.
The meeting did not however recommend satellite-based systems as the universal
solution to underpin an ICM framework for CTA and its partners. Connectivity
restrictions vary enormously from country to country and the application
of systems providing Internet access via satellite should therefore be
considered on a country-by-country basis. The Consultative Expert Meeting
discussed the appropriateness of CTA's model of an ICM framework (which
was developed at the Observatory 2000 meeting) in the light of new insights
gained from developments in the fast moving ICT arena.
The meeting concluded the current model emphasized a vertical integration
of the information programmes of CTA and its key partners in ACP countries
and recommended that CTA consider adding to the framework a dimension
of a much needed horizontal integration of information activities of the
NA(R)S organizations in ACP countries. In that way, the ICM framework
could become the basis for the establishment of an ACP agricultural knowledge
network, thus reinforcing other international efforts (such as the DOT
Force of the G8 Heads of State) that aim to close the "digital divide".
CTA's working document series consists of material that, in view of
its immediate relevance and practical utility to specific readerships,
the Centre wishes to make available without the delays inherent in the
formal publication process. These working documents have not yet undergone
technical editing by CTA and should be cited accordingly. Comments on
matters of substance are welcome, and should be addressed directly to
CTA
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