Sudan: A knowledge Exchange Management System for Strengthening Rural Community & Poverty Reduction, By Dr. Abbas Elsir M. Elamin, Mr. Abdelhamid M. Magboul

1. Sudan: A knowledge Exchange
Management System for Strengthening
Rural Community & Poverty Reduction
By
Dr. Abbas Elsir M. Elamin
Mr. Abdelhamid M. Magboul

2. Introduction: Facts
 Reliable agricultural information constitutes a
cornerstone in the construction of agricultural
development and in the formulation of policies
that, relying on valid and scientific basis, are
designed to enhance food security and reduce
rural poverty.
 Information is not knowledge until it is known,
and knowledge is not innovation until it is used.

3. Introduction: Facts
A knowledge exchange system integrates three major functions:
I knowledge generation (Modern knowledge & technology:
NARS, private sector, Traditional knowledge: farmers, herders, rural community)
II Knowledge exchange, and (NARS, extension workers,
universities, policy makers, service providers, community grass roots
agents, NGOs, Private sector etc..)
III Knowledge application
(beneficiaries: farmers, herders, rural community)
Dissemination processes:
• Training & capacity building: FFS, on-farm Participatory adoption,
out- scaling
• ICT: TV & Radio, Workshops & conferences, Websites, Journals &
publications

4. Key components to the use of information and
communication to fight hunger & poverty
 Information content relevant to agricultural
and rural development and food security
(problem solving & have wide impact);
 Innovative mechanisms for information
exchange;
 Networks made up of formal and informal
stakeholders’ associations.

5. Constraints to knowledge exchange system
 Inadequate agricultural research;
 Inefficient information and communications
management;
 Poor linkages between researchers and extension
officers;
 Diversity of institutions and of the methodologies
used;
 Lack of coordination and collaboration;
 An absence of virtual national networks of
agricultural institutions of Ministries of Agriculture
and Agricultural Research Centers (MOA/ARC) that
can be accessed through a national portal. In this
respect, institutional capacity development is
required for effective information management and
knowledge exchange that is based on stakeholders
needs.

6. Communication challenges
 Lack of efficient operational plans coupled
with weak institutional set-up and linkages.
 No set of common multi-stakeholders’
objectives (Research priorities are not set
with the stakeholders)
 Mandate of the ARC is limiting (communication
with stakeholders’ needs due to inadequate
financial, physical and logistical resources
& limited skilled staff)
 Accountability to clients/beneficiaries, No
clear roles and responsibilities on who is doing
what?

7. Technology transfer and extension (ad & hoc)
 ARC engages to a some extent in technology
transfer and extension activities (FAO, IFAD,
ICARDA,...projects).
 Technology transfer in the ARC comprises:
On-Farm trials, Demonstration plots, FFS,
Field Days, Traveling workshops, Leaflets, TV
& Radio program.

8. Current situation of a knowledge
exchange system in Sudan
 Since early 2001, a non-profit, non-governmental
technical professional body was formed called
Sudan Internet Society (SIS) with the objective of
increasing local internet awareness.
 At the ARC level, ARC provides access to its central
library to some outside stations through computer-based
network that uses telecommunications.
 All libraries are freely open to interested users.
 Fax and email are increasingly being used by all
institutions for communication between field
(stations) and the central office (Headquarters).

9. Current situation …
 Research results and annual research reports are
produced by research institutions (ARC, National
Council for Research, universities (Gezira &
Khartoum).
 Journal articles are used by technical persons such
as researchers, decision makers, postgraduate
students and project staff; it is of limited diffusion.
 Leaflets and booklets, which provide relatively wider
coverage among targeted audience, are produced
almost by all of the institutions.
 ARC is the principal source of the technical
information of leaflets and booklets.
 Research institutions suffer from shortage in budget
allocated for exchanging knowledge.

10. Current situation……
 Computer databases are available in ARC and NCR.
 Databases include Sudanese collection of scientific
journals and foreign collection that includes AGORA,
TEEAL and ICARDA library.
 The respective institutions provide free access to
these information sources through computer based
network in
each institution.
 In addition, ARC & NCR provide photocopies of the
available literature (upon request).
 The available computer databases in ARC and NCR
are mostly used by researchers and post-graduate
students in agriculture and rural development.

11. Current situation ……
 The bulk of information on these databases is research
results in agriculture and rural development (most
institutions are using AGORA database).
 The amount of documented Sudanese literature is so
limited.
 Libraries in higher education institutions provide free
access to information, which in most cases contains print
materials such as textbooks, journals and university
thesis.
 Online publishing is limited due to the limited technical
capacities of ICM staff in this type of activity.
 Only ARC is able to provide abstracts of its journal (Sudan
Journal for Agricultural Research) on its web site (www.
arcsudan.sd).
 FAO , ICARDA , Islamic Development Bank (IDB) & IFAD has played a
great role in strengthen staff capacity in the network of technology transfer
and extension in Sudan.

12. Recommendation
 Assistance is needed to develop and strengthen the institutional and human
capacities in national agricultural research and extension systems. Capacity
development to facilitate knowledge access and to strengthen stakeholders'
linkages and participation at both national and regional levels.
 Mechanism for effective information management and knowledge exchange
in the field of rural and agricultural development.
 FAO regional partners such as AARINENA & (ICARDA) can assist
Sudan through Virtual Extension Research Communication Network
(VERCON) which is developed by FAO to strengthen linkages between
extension officers, researchers, farmers and other stakeholders involved in
agricultural and rural development.
 Rural and Agricultural Development Communication Network Project
(RADCON) can also be adopted to boost effective information management
and knowledge exchange in rural and agricultural development.

13. Field days

14. Training Workshops

15. FFs

16. THANK YOU