ICTs to improve Land Management

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