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Present Status of Agricultural Information Technology Systems and Services in Bangladesh

M. A. ZAMAN
Professor
Department of Farm Power & Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University,Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The status of agricultural information technology in Bangladesh has been presented in this paper. Use of PCs by the public and private institutes and by individuals increased rapidly in Bangladesh during the last decade due to technological advances and fall of prices of PCs. IT services are also increasing and Internet service providers (ISPs) are expanding their services to important cities and towns of the country. But, unfortunately, IT services for agriculture did not flourish so much due to many reasons. About a dozen of research institutes are working under the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). But the compilation of research findings and the delivery system are yet to be modernized. Govt. and/or donor funded projects have to be undertaken to connect the research institutes by internet linkage so as to provide better IT services to the users.

Keywords: Agricultural information technology; Bangladesh; Information system

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: ICT

Objectives:

a. To Collection, processing and storage of information and data on scientific research and experimental development in all branches of science and technology;

b. To Dissemination of such information to researchers irrespective of their affiliations whether they are engaged in research and academic institutions, planning organizations, policy making bodies and in the public and private industries sector; and

c. To Assistance to researchers to make contact with researchers in other countries working in the same field of interest.

Methodology:

Though the first main frame computer came to Bangladesh in 1964, but usage of PC and its popularization actually started very late. Commercial application of computer was initiated by Janata Bank in 1967 followed by Adamjee Jute Mills Ltd. in 1970. Several large banks and private entrepreneurs in industrial sectors are the path makers of achieving benefits from computer and computerized applications. Bureau of Statistics and a few nationalized banks are the leaders in using computer in government sector by processing data and information, while industrial concerns in private sectors are the leaders in applying computer for their accounting, payroll and inventory related applications. Internet has a significant positive role in accessing information from different sources. Until very recently, Bangladesh National Scientific Documentation Centre (BANSDOC) was the only public sector institution providing Internet services to selected users, mainly the research and educational institutes. There are several banks that link their branches through Internet. At present there are about 80 Independent (private) ISP companies, including the government owned BTTB and many offline ISPs all over the country. Now the Internet service has gone up to major towns of the country at district level. Straight line of path (60 km range with 3 Mb access speed), each tower units cost approximately USD 2400. An Information Technology village is going to be set up very close to Dhaka. The government has already made 18 acres of land available for setting up this IT village. This would be similar to the Software Technology Parks in India. The entire infrastructure, including high-speed telecommunication facilities (2 Mbps link) would be provided. These would enable the small companies to move into buildings with readily available facilities. Since this is going to take at least two years, a decision has been taken to initially set it up in an existing building in Dhaka. The present Government of Bangladesh (GOB) declared IT (Information Technology) as a thrust sector. IT national policy has been formulated. This Policy aims at building an IT-driven nation comprising of knowledge-based society by the year 2010. In view of this, a countrywide IT-infrastructure will be developed to ensure access to information by every citizen. It is expected to facilitate empowerment of people and enhance democratic values and norms for sustainable economic development by using the infrastructure for human resources development, governance, e-commerce, banking, public utility services and all sorts of on-line IT-enabled services. Ministry of Information Technology (MOIT) will be created with the prime responsibility of assisting socio-cultural-economic development of Bangladesh through the use of Information Technology. National Council of Information Technology (NCIT) will be created as the field organization of MOIT to implement the decisions of the MOIT, as well as to act as the liaison between the IT Industry and the Government. Agriculture including fisheries and livestock is the main source of earnings for the majority of the people of Bangladesh. IT systems can be used in these sectors to reap its unutilized potentials and thereby improving the socio-economic conditions of the rural people. Proper initiatives will be taken to utilize IT systems in agri-business development, agriculture research, and dissemination of agricultural technology to the farmers and preparation & maintenance of agricultural database. The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) consists of ten research organizations. These are: 1. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), 2. Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), 3. Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI), 4. Bangladesh Institute for Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), 5. Sugarcane Research and training Institute (SRTI). 6. Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), 7. Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI), 8. Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), and 9. Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI). Agricultural Information Centre (AIC) of BARC is a focal point for SAARC Agricultural Information Centre (SAIC). It serves as the national agricultural information centre of Bangladesh and the custodian of nationally produced agricultural literature. AIC is concerned with identification, collection, processing, storage and dissemination of agricultural information in Bangladesh. It provides information and documentation services to the scientists and related professionals within the NARS and other Government and non-government organization. Under this project, BAU will have Internet facility with a server established at the BAU campus and local area network (LAN) to connect BAU Library and the faculty members. BAU will have Internet linkage with BIDS and other organizations at five divisional stations. BAU now requires trained personnel to offer courses on ITA (Information technology on agriculture) through Department of Computer Science and to operate and maintain the newly established IT system. T

Source of Information: 2002_AFITA2002_CHINA_p75-83

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Information technology has been identified as a thrust sector by the GOB and a national policy on IT is formulated. The use of computers and the number of ISPs and the Internet users are increasing day by day. Agricultural information technology systems are being developed. Better Cupertino and linkage between the IT and research institutes are badly needed for generation, compilation, dissemination and exchange of agricultural information. Computer education in the country is improving. BAU, being the oldest and largest educational centre, can play vital role in further development of IT for agriculture.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings