Workshop
on rural information networks in Asia-Pacific:
Innovative practices and future directions
14–16 December 2005
Asian
Institute of Technology (AIT)
Pathum Thani, Thailand
Tentative Programme
DAY 1: 14 December 2005
07.30 – 08.00
Registration
08.10 – 08.30
Opening Address
He Changchui, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative,
FAO
08.30 – 08.45 Group photo session
08.45 – 09.00
Introduction
Malcolm Hazelman, Senior Extension Education and Communications
Officer, FAO
09.00 – 09.30 “ICT in rural development in Asia: new learning and extension opportunities”. V. Balaji, Head of Knowledge Management and Sharing, ICRISAT
09.30 – 10.00 “Strengthening partnerships and participation in rural information networks: lessons learned from five Asian countries”. Alexander Flor, Dean and Professor, Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, University of the Philippines Open University
10.00 – 10.20 “Bridging the rural digital divide”. Michael Riggs, Information Management Specialist, FAO
10.20 – 10.50 Coffee break
SESSION PRESENTATION
10.50 – 11.35
Session 1: Innovative practices for
access and empowerment: Gender and rural youth
Session Chairperson: Scott McLean
10.50 – 11.05 “ICTs for promoting gender equality and advancement of rural women”. Revathi Balakrishnan, Senior Gender and Development Officer, FAO
11.05 – 11.20 “ICT for grassroots innovation against poverty”. Shrestha Sunit, Director, Thai Rural Net
11.20 – 11.35 Discussion
11.35 – 12.35
Session 2: Innovative practices for
farmers
Session Chairperson: Suchin Petcharugsa
11.35 – 11.50 “The Philippine Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) in the K-AgriNet Program”. Patricio S. Faylon, Executive Director, PCARRD, the Philippines
11.50 – 12.05 “Some initiatives to reduce digital divide for the rural community in Malaysia”. Kamarudin Saadan, Director, Information Resource Management Div., MARDI, Malaysia
12.05 – 12.20 “Improving rural dissemination systems in the Lao PDR: the case of the radio programme ‘Ban Na Pasuk’ (‘The Happy Farm/Village’)”. Mr Joakim Lagerqvist, Associate Expert, ICT, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, Lao PDR
12.20 – 12.35 Discussion
12.35 – 13.20 Lunch
13.20 – 14.30
Session 3: Innovative practices for
rural communities
Session Chairperson: Susanne
Ornager
13.20 – 13.45 “ICT in agriculture development in Bhutan”. Kencho Thinley, Information Communication Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Bhutan
13.45 – 14.00 “Information and communication technology for rural livelihoods in Baan Samkha ‘Village that Learns’”. Srinuan Wongtrakul, Suchin Petcharagsa & Pisuth Paiboonrath, Thailand
14.00 – 14.15 “Cyber extension: innovative uses of ICTs for agriculture – Case studies from India”. VP Sharma, MANAGE, India
14.15 – 14.30 Discussion
14.30 – 15.15
Session 4: Innovative practices for
agriculture support services – extension
Session Chairperson: V. Balaji
14.30 – 14.45 “ICTs application in rural Iran, perspectives and operations of extension system”. Ali Khosravi, Senior Expert of Rural ICTs – Department of Agricultural Extension and Farming Systems, Ministry of Agriculture, I.R. Iran
14.45 – 15.00 “Experience of Thailand in developing ICT for extension programmes”. Chairit Damrongkiat, Dept. of Agricultural Extension, Thailand
15.15 – 15.30 “Digital extension: an alternative strategy for network extension”. Rohan Wijekoon, Asst. Director, Dept. of Agriculture Audio Visual Center, Sri Lanka
15.30 – 15.45 Coffee break
15.45 – 16.00 “Selected success stories on agricultural research information systems for rural development in the Asia-Pacific Region”. Sahdev Singh, APAARI
16.00 – 16.15 Discussion
16.15 – 17.30
Session 5: Innovative practices for
agriculture support services – education
Session Chairperson: Malcolm Hazelman
16.15 – 16.30 “ICT and rural development: Experiences in China”. Wang Qiang, Assoc. Professor, International Research and Training Center for Rural Education (INRULED), Faculty of Education, Nanjing Normal University, P.R. China
16.30 – 16.45 “ICT for open and distance learning: basic principles and best practices in Asia and the Pacific”. Scott McLean, University of Calgary Continuing Education, Canada
16.45 – 17.00 “Capacity building with the Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK)”. Michael Riggs, Information Management Specialist, FAO
17.00 – 17.30 Discussion
18.30 – 20.30 Welcome dinner
DAY 2: 15 December 2005
SESSION PRESENTATIONS continued
08.00 – 08.30
Session 6: Innovative practices for
networks
Session Chairperson: Alexander Flor
08.00 – 08.15 “Networks for lifelong learning and rural poverty reduction in Asia – Lessons and challenges”. Krishna Alluri, Education Specialist, Commonwealth of Learning
08.15 – 08.30 “Sustainable rural networking in the Solomon Islands – PFNet's experience”. Randall Biliki, Manager, PFNet, Solomon Islands
08.30 – 09.20
Session 7: Innovative practices for
supporting national development
Session Chairperson: Alexander Flor
08.30 – 08.45 “Information service practices in rural China”. Zhong Yongling, Deputy Chief of Information Analysis Division, Information Center, Ministry of Agriculture, P.R. China
08.45 – 09.00 “Best ICT infrastructure for the South Pacific countries – USPNet”. Kisione Wesley Finau, Director, Information Technology Services, University of the South Pacific, Fiji
09.00 – 09.20 Discussion
09.20 – 09.30 Coffee break
09.30 – 17.30
Field trip to observe ICT empowering
rural youth
The Wat Conglom ICT training bus and Preedaram Wittayakom School
Lunch provided during the trip.
Return to AIT.
DAY 3: 16 December 2005
FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION
08.00 – 10.00 ICT framework for bridging the rural digital divide in
Asia-Pacific
Teamwork led by: Malcolm Hazelman, Alexander Flor, V. Balaji
10.00 – 10.20 Coffee break
10.20 – 12.00 ICT framework for bridging the rural digital divide in
Asia-Pacific
Teamwork led by: Malcolm Hazelman, Alexander Flor, V. Balaji
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch
13.30 – 15.00 Team reporting on the ICT framework
15.00 – 15.40 Recommendations and conclusions
15.40 – 16.00 Coffee break
16.00 – 16.30 Closing session
