Osigwe, Chibandu C. (author / Librarian/Documentation Specialist, National Agricultural Research Institute, Guyana) and Librarian/Documentation Specialist, National Agricultural Research Institute, Guyana
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1993
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 96 Document Number: C07572
search through journal, Information is the key to innovation and self-sustaining development. It is the vehicle that carries all development efforts in all disciplines of human endeavor. Sustainable agricultural development must have its base on a sustainable information infrastructure and both of them should be viewed equally. This paper looks at some definition of sustainability and from there defines sustainable information management. The systems and infrastructures that have helped in building and providing a continuous information flow to maintain sustainable agriculture development are reviewed. Efforts being made by information professionals to conserve information materials are mentioned and information cooperation in the form of information systems/databases and networks are examined. (author)
search through journal, The responsibility and tasks of a national agricultural information system (NAIS) is discussed with emphasis on the Ministry of Agriculture Library in Jamaica. The nature of the institutional and interinstitutional infrastructure for agricultural activities; lack of professional staff; lack of awareness of the need for information by potential users; lack of provision for collecting locally generated material; and lack of skills in documentation on the part of agriculturalists are identified as factors hindering the coordination and progress of a NAIS in Jamaica. The development of the National Information Plan; availability of training at the professional and paraprofessional level within the island; cooperation and commitment among librarians at formal and informal levels; and the possibility of approaching funding agencies are described as advantages to a NAIS. Recommendations are made concluding that the problems cannot be fully addressed by librarians without the support of user organizations and there is a definite need for librarians to be active in the problem solving process. (author).
