IT for Agriculture Forum MOA Signing between NACA, SEAFDEC, IWMI, AIT, APRTC, NECTEC, DOF, and FAO
In Thailand, the agricultural information network has not been properly set up yet. Technology transfer and provision of agricultural services are not linked among the organization involved. To contribute to developing collaborative dissemination system and technology exchange and transfer for sustainable agricultural development, the IT for Agriculture Forum has been initiated at the Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on January 31, 2003 by Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia - Pacific (NACA); Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC); International Water Management Institute (IWMI); AIT's Space Technology Applications and Researches (STAR) Program; Asia Pacific Regional Technology Center (APRTC); National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC); Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives; and Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nation (FAO).
The MOU was signed by Dr. Thaweesak Koanantakool, Director of NECTEC, Mr. Don Jayatissa Bandaragoda, Director of IWMI; Dr. Bueno Pedro, Director-General of NACA; Director of APRTC; Dr. Sutham Sitthighalkasem, Authorized Representative Secretary-General of SEAFDEC; Prof. Huynh Ngoc Phien, Dean of AIT's School of Advanced Technologies; and Ms. Buenafe Abdon, Authorized Representative Director of APRTC.
At the MOU Signing, photo shows from left: Mr. Don Jayatissa Bandaragoda, Director of IWMI; Prof. H. N. Phien, Dean of SAT/AIT; and Dr. Sutham Sitthighalkasem, Authorized Representative Secretary-General of SEAFDEC.
Photo Prof. H.N. Phien, right, Dean of SAT/AIT, giving a speech at the MOU Signing. Also in the photo are from left: Dr. Bueno Pedro, Director-General of NACA; Dr. Thawesak Koanantakool, Director of NECTEC; Mr. Don Jayatissa Bandaragoda, Director of IWMI.
IT for Agriculture Forum aims to exchange knowledge and experiences, scientific documentation and methodologies to develop sustainable and acceptable community-based risk management systems. It will enhance national and regional capability with respect to productive information technology systems and share knowledge and experiences from Thailand with Asian countries and regional institutes to reach resource-poor farmers faster and to reach more of them. The Forum will establish mutual links between the various organizations under Memorandum of Agreement and Cooperation (MOAC) and the Forum members in information technology and agriculture risk assessment as well as setting up a delivery systems and agricultural technology transfer on non-commercial basis for productive and sustainable farming.
The cooperation will focus on a joint website for the dissemination of technical and practical information to meet the needs and interests of the target clients. It also emphasizes the integration of information from different sources in such a way that they can be accessed to serve the needs of farmers across the country and the region. The concerned parties will further exchange research finding and information dissemination package among organizations involved, locally and internationally through the internet, joint meetings, workshops, conferences, seminars, regional visits and publications. The cooperation, in addition, will cover training and development of the personnel participating in the project. The participating members will jointly seek donor support for specific activities. They will also train and develop technology brokers and farmers to increase their knowledge and skills in using agricultural information and technology for improving farming systems and developing agricultural production with community involvement.