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| Land management |
ICTs to
improve land management (e.g. soils) and land use planning
Among the various ICT,
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques represent
two key tools for land planning and management. GIS offers the opportunity to
gather multiple layers of information, drawn from different sources, into one
spatial representation. This can be particularlyuseful in reaching consensus over
land planning when users have different values and preferences linked to a
given territory. Similarly, RS techniques are a valuable tool for monitoring
land resources (e.g. vegetation, water bodies, etc.), especially when a single
institution is in charge of monitoring a wide area. Retrieving data directly
from the field is expensive and time consuming. Nonetheless, GIS and RS cannot completely
substitute for local, on the ground observations. Finding the appropriate
balance between remote and in-situ monitoring is often a delicate issue. To
overcome some of these challenges, it is essential to inform GIS and RS
frameworks through participatory processes in order to identify appropriate and
transparent methods and systems. The process behind the deployment of GIS and
RS should be open and explicit so communities do not perceive the technologies
as tools for hidden agendas. One objective of climate-smart agriculture is
adaptation. How do land use planners, farmers and service providers think about
changing whole farming systems in response to climate change? This “transformative
adaptation” is more advanced in developed countries such as Australia, however,
it has potential in developing countries as well. One tool for adaptation that
is now being worked on, which combines GIS and modeling, is known as “analogue
sites” (see Applications/Resources section for more information about this and
other tools and processes mentioned in the forum). The toughest challenges may
be identifying the target group of farmers where these efforts can make the
most difference, and in determining the ICT that will provide the most robust
access to the relevant information within budgetary constraints. Generating
awareness about the availability (e.g. through government-sponsored extension),
and farmer acceptance (long-term social behavior changes) of these tools, are
also challenging but critical aspects to sustainability.
Using
ICT to make farming practices more environmentally sustainable
In many developing
countries, farmers determine fertilizer usage, with retailers (input sellers)
typically playing an important role. Studies and practical field experience show
that farmers do not often use the proper dose and
chemical type due to lack of appropriate knowledge and other reasons, which in
turn leads to increased production costs as well as harm
to human health and the environment. One
ICT-based solution to this problem is found in the e-Krishok program in
Bangladesh. The Fertilizer Recommendation Solution (FRS) is
an online tool that guides farmers to know the right dose and type of
fertilizer to be used for a specific location and crop. Farmers can also
receive a printout of their diagnostics at a local telecenter
or information center. Beyond nutrient management, there remains a great need for
innovation in the use of ICT for the management
of agriculture’s impact on the environment, including water. Integrating the
power of ICT into irrigation management is a high priority need in this area. While
promising, the use of ICT to make farming more environmentally sustainable
faces many challenges. The FRS experience demonstrated that raising awareness of these
services and their benefits amongst small farmers
is a significant challenge to overcome. Once awareness is achieved, then trust
and liability (i.e. what if the information used leads to
an adverse result?) become critical.
Neil Palmer (CIAT)
According to the [farmer] it was absolutely absurd that someone, who he
can’t see, would recommend the exact amount of fertilizer to be used in his
land without even seeing his land! To him it was a ridiculous idea and in his
35 years of career as a farmer he never heard of something so absurd.
Md. Asad-Ur-Rahman Nile, Katalyst, from discussion with
famers in Bangladesh
The challenges that face
any agricultural activity involving the use of ICT, such as poor connectivity, low
bandwidth, limited electricity, high mobile service costs, user-based/need
driven information, are the same facing the potential of ICT to make agriculture
more environmentally sustainableThese challenges can be at least partially
overcome by service providers that develop reliable rural connectivity, alternative
power resources for electricity, and by involving the relevant client groups to
define what types of information and knowledge will be useful to them from the
onset. Importantly, messages need to be tailored to particular contexts in
order to be appropriate and have value to farmers. Integrating local data
collectors into the design phase will help to ensure this value. It is also
important to share the limitations of these technologies with farmers. For
example, adopting the information on good farming practices received through
mobile phones will not lead to better yields if the farmer uses bad seed.
Social issues, such as women’s access to the technology, must also be considered.
GIS & GPS
Practical tools on Land Management-GPS,Mapping, and GIS
Rwanda Environment Management Authority
Government of Rwanda,Kigali,2010
