The overall objective of the proposed initiative was to improve food security and livelihood of poor farmers in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) through increased application of existing agricultural information, and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to manage and share information at the national and regional levels.
The immediate objectives were to manage and apply information at global and national levels to the local context using ICT to consolidate the process. The Rice Knowledge Bank (RKB) of the web-based information of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was used as the main tool to pilot the initiative. The project also involved the following components:
Identifying and prioritizing information needs of local farmers, and adapting and translating materials into local languages to meet local needs; Institutionalizing the use of ICT and adaptation of global information to local context. The RKB was used in capacity building for agricultural extension workers, information facilitators, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and other institutions at national and provincial levels; and Building and strengthen the knowledge network of agricultural extension practitioners at the national and regional levels using RKG as the main tool. Practitioners were involved in the continued updating of RKB information sharing experience and knowledge.
Complementary Information
Given the role of women in rice production and the lack of information among ethnic minority groups, a special effort was made to include women extension workers and people working in remote and border areas.
