Abebe kirub abebekirub@gmail.com
Towards paradigm shift to access agricultural knowledge and technologies through learning and innovation platforms
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The Ethiopian RAILS team was established in late 2010.
The team is composed of several stakeholders from Ethiopian agricultural research training/ education and development actors.
The vision of the team is “ to see information and knowledge on Ethiopian agriculture is fully accessed.”
Support to improve production and productivity (extension and development)
Support capacity building ( training and education)
Support core business (research)
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The RAILS team include relevant actors from
Ministry of Agriculture,
Regional States Bureaues of Agriculture,
Zone and district agricultural development offices,
Agricultural research institutes (at federal and regional states levels),
Higher learning institutions (with agricultural faculties),
Agricultural training and vocational colleges,
Farmers training centers,
NGOs (involved in agriculture and rural development activities), and
Community-based organizations (within the spectrum of agricultural development).
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During the establishment of the team and identification of potential RAILS member institutions, it was assumed that members are expected to open up their information and knowledge resources for more access by all stakeholders
(farmers, pastoralists, professionals, advocates, development agents, researchers, and educators/ trainers).
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Less insight on the issues revolving around RAILS; especially at middle level leaderships;
Inadequate openness to agricultural knowledge resources from member institutions/ organizations;
Less regard to RAILS by some individuals and institutions; who, as a result opt for other optional platforms (social media and networks);
Staff turnover/ high attrition rates of skilled staff;
Unforeseen commitments that led to less involved in group activities ; and
Weak linkages with DONATA and RAILS (staff turnover at
DODATA side thus discontinuity of joint activities)
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activities, it was possible to reach about 2-
5% (220,000-550,000) of the farming household (estimated at 11 million) and made part of the direct benefits of the platform outputs.
This was made possible with professional assistance of researchers and extension agents
A number of information and knowledge objects were in place for a robust knowledge transfer
Policy and development actors are in support of the activities of RAILS where new agricultural technologies are transferred
There is also a sign of new partnership with industries who consume agricultural knowledge for that domain of value-chain associated with agriculture inclined to the activities of RAILS for the partial completion of their graduation/ academic requirements
Several knowledge objects such as leaflets, posters, banners, radio and TV broadcasts and newspapers and magazine articles have been used to reach the farming and pastoralist HH
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Initiating team spirit of agricultural information and knowledge management professionals
Training web2 tools and associated ICM resources
(e-RAILS essentials)
Improved science communication skills (especially, for agricultural researchers). One instance among the many includes training given to over 180 young agricultural researchers at federal and regional levels to skill up their scientific writing. The training was mainstreamed by modular packages as well as writing scientific manuscripts from a processed or analyzed data. Because of this training, between 2010 and 2012 over 37 journal articles were published by young researchers (who took the training) in reputable journals both within the country and at international levels. This training also helped researchers to train extension agents on how to prepare effective and functional production guidelines (brochures, leaflets, and posters).
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The joint activities of members were involved around following mechanisms
Arranging farmers days;
Facilitating open house activities in various research centers;
Supporting agricultural exhibitions;
Facilitating scientific communications;
Sharing information and knowledge management tools (such as KOHA, and DSPACE)
Arranging discussion forums; and
Online content publication (using ICT in disseminating agricultural information and knowledge)
Support from the government is promising and maturing. One of the expected support of the government was that the team used all available government media outlets including TV stations, radio stations (AM and FM) and the press extensively free of charge. It is also true that private radio stations and private press are kind enough to offer air time and space to transmit agricultural information and knowledge at a wider scale. This shows that in
Ethiopia, mass communication is considering
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The way forward to better serve the target communities considering a sense of paradigm shift from earlier approach of establishing RAILS team will be done as follows:
Identifying sources of commitment
(trustworthiness) of regularly responding institutions and capitalize on their strengths;
Identifying and labeling key gaps and opportunities for a strong and functional RAILS team;
Continuous learning and assessment; and
Recognizing best practices and innovations
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1% 2% 2% 3%
2%
7%
15%
13%
55%
Research inst.
Research projects
University
Extension
Business partnership
Professional assn
NGO others
Research institute
14
Research project
50
University Extension Business Partnership
12 6 2
Target for 2014
1
Professional association
2
NGO others Total
2 3 92
122
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Measurement
No
%
Target for 2014 (%)
Male Female
44 9
83.02
16.98
70 30
Total
53
100.00
100.00
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