Information Communication Technology (ICT): Its roles in Fisheries

Yumlembam Jackie Singh / Huirem Bharati *

Information played an important role in all societies since the dawn of civilization. The world is undergoing an Information Communication Technology (ICT) revolution, a revolution that has enormous socio-economic implications for the developed and developing countries.

ICTs play a vital role for the development of the status of agriculture and allied areas in our country. In India, over 112 million households have a TV. As early as 1995, television exposure in China was estimated at one billion people (Jensen and Oster, 2007). ICTs range from advanced modern technologies, such as GPS navigation, satellite communication, and wireless connectivity, to older technologies such as radio and television.

The latest innovations of ICTs in fisheries sectors have brought about a tremendous change in the life styles of the fish farmers. Different initiatives in ICTs have been taken up which would also help in expanding and developing the fisheries technologies to the farmers.

However, the rural people still have difficulties in accessing crucial information in forms they can understand in order to make timely decisions. New information and communication technologies are generating possibilities to solve problems of rural people and also to promote the agricultural production by providing scientific information to the farmers. But the rural communities still lack basic communication infrastructure.

Importance of ICTs in Fisheries

New information and communication technologies (ICTs) are being used across the fisheries sector, from resource assessment, capture or culture to processing and commercialisation. Some are specialist applications such as sonar for locating fish. Others are general purpose applications such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) used for navigation and location finding, mobile phones for trading, information exchange and emergencies, radio programming with fishing communities and web-based information and networking resources. (FAO, 2007).

Introduction of mobile phones in India has brought about a tremendous change in fisheries sector. One result was a dramatic improvement in the efficiency and profitability of the fishing industry. As mobile phone service spread, it allowed fishermen to land their catches where there were wholesalers ready to purchase them.

This reduced waste from between 5-8 per cent of total catch to close to zero and increased average profitability by around 8 per cent. At the same time, consumer prices fell by 4 per cent (Jensen, 2007).

Different communication technologies have been used by the fishermen, entrepreneurs, aquaculturist, extension workers, etc. Of all these, radio has been found to be most widely used by farmers. Information on various innovations of fisheries technologies are being disseminated among the farmers.

The internet is emerging as a tool with potential to contribute to rural development. Internet enables rural communities to receive information and assistance from other development organisations: offer opportunities for two-way and horizontal communication and for opening up communication channels for rural communities and development organisations.

It can facilitate dialogue among communities and with government planners, development agencies, researchers, and technical experts: encourage community participation in decision-making; coordinating local, regional and national development efforts for increased effectiveness; and help agricultural researchers, technicians, farmers and others in sharing information. Internet can also give a vast global information resource. The Internet has proven valuable for the development of Fisheries in developing countries like India.

Initiatives in Fisheries Sector

ATIC
It is not enough to generate information alone but it is also necessary to ensure that the required information is delivered to the end users at the earliest and with the least dissemination loss. The establishment of agricultural technology information centres (ATIC) can forge a better interaction between researchers and technology users.

This acts as a single window system with an objective to help farmers and other stakeholders to provide solutions to their agriculture related problems. This also helps in providing technological information along with technology inputs and products. Such information is useful for farmers, entrepreneurs, extension workers, NGOs and private sector organisations.

Kisan Call Centre
The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC), Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India launched Kisan Call Centres across the country to deliver extension services to the farming community. A Kisan Call Centres consists of a complex of telecommunication infrastructure, computer support and human resources organized to respond the queries raised by farmers in their local languages.

Subject Matter Specialists (SMS) using telephone and computers, interact with farmers directly to understand the problems and answer the queries at the call centres. There are call centres for every state that are expected to handle traffic from any part of the country.

Helpline
Leveraging on the IT revolution in India and the increasing penetration of telephones in villages, many State Agricultural Universities and ICAR institutes have started helpline services. The helplines address queries related at specific hours. The helpline number is advertised through mass media viz., radio and press.

Aqua service centres
Many unemployed educated youths have started operating aqua service centres in the line of agri-clinics. These centres offer services like soil and water testing, feed analysis, seed quality testing (PCR test), disease diagnosis and market intelligence. They also sell inputs such as feed, fertilizers, pesticides, other therapeutics etc. In Andhra Pradesh, several such centres can be found in Kolleru lake area of West Godavari district. Farmers need to pay for the availing services of these centres (Saha et al, 2008).

One stop aqua shop
One of the major recommendations of DFID funded project "Investigating improved policy on aquaculture service provision to poor people" was to establish one stop aqua shop (OAS). It is intended that OAS would provide better access to farmers regarding appropriate aquaculture technology as well as information on government schemes and rural banking and micro finance.

It was also envisaged that OAS would sell fish seed and other inputs. The shop is a single outlet for all inputs that a farmer may require in the cultivation of fish. The inputs include fish seed, fertilizers, chemicals etc. The OAS is also helping farmers in providing information on fish farming through information brochures supplied by state departments and research institutes.

Aqua choupal
Aqua choupal, the unique web based initiative of ITC Ltd. offers the farmers of the state of Andhra Pradesh all the information, products and services they need to enhance productivity, improve farm gate prize realization and cut transaction cost. Farmers can access information on weather, scientific farming practices and market prices through a web portal. Aqua choupal also facilitate the supply of high quality farm inputs as well as purchase of shrimps at their doorstep.

Rural Knowledge Centre
Rural Knowledge Centre is a part of a nationwide plan and has been set in motion in July 2004 by the Centre in collaboration with the states, NASSCOM, UNDP and a host of NGOs. Its primary aim is to set up multipurpose resource centres at the villages of the country. Each Knowledge centre is run by local self help groups, and cater to knowledge based livelihoods and create income avenues for rural people, farming communities and disadvantaged people.

Cyber extension
The internet is emerging as a tool with potential to contribute to rural development. Internet enables rural communities to receive information and assistance from other development organisations: offer opportunities for two-way and horizontal communication and for opening up communication channels for rural communities and development organisations.

It can facilitate dialogue among communities and with government planners, development agencies, researchers, and technical experts: encourage community participation in decision-making; coordinating local, regional and national development efforts for increased effectiveness; and help agricultural researchers, technicians, farmers and others in sharing information. Internet can also give a vast global information resource.

Towards Sustainable development
The aquaculture sector of developing countries are under tremendous pressure due to the increasing market orientation of aquaculture of trade, the emergence of global markets and competition and increasing concern about food and environment.

Diversification and intensification are some of the key factors for sustainable aquaculture development and therefore the regular information flow among farming communities, technical and marketing resources and other supplying institutions is a must for steady growth in the farm economy. Small holder farm families who comprise the majority of farming families are facing increased pressure to respond changing market demands and to adopt latest technological innovations.

The agricultural decisions and transactions in the developed world are now manipulated through digital networks. The internet and mobile telephones in particular, are used by governments to provide services to citizens (e-government) and to provide a platform for citizens to interact with fellow citizens as well as experts.

e-governence can make governance more efficient and more effective by improving governmental process (e-administration), connecting citizens (e-citizens & e-services) and building external interactions (e-society). E-citizens, e-services and e-society are relatively new inclusions within the e-governance as they rely on the new Information and Communication technologies (ICT). Access to information is clearly a key determinant for maintaining a successful farming business (Farell, 2003).

Public extension systems require a paradigm shift from top-down, blanket dissemination of technological packages, towards providing producers with the knowledge and understanding with which they solve their own location specific problems.

Conclusion

Aquaculture is one of the fastest developing industries and there is an increasing need in proper information, technologies, and farming techniques dissemination, such as the Code of Good Management Conduct in Aquaculture. Lack of communication facilities in communities inhibits the social political and economic empowerment of the majority of the population.

Extension today has to assume multiple roles of providing information about technologies, prices and market, policies; organising farmers for exchange of information, facilitating learning from experiences; provide problem solving consultancy in order to serve the farming community(Sulaiman, 2003).

Farmers now need quality information about technological options in farming to produce and participate better in markets. They need to know not only market prices but also trends about market prices to plan cultivation. To make information transfer more effective, greater use will need to be made of modern information technology and communication among researchers, extensionists and farmers. References

• De, H.K., Saha, G.S., Srichandan, R. and Vipinkumar, V.P. 2008. New Initiatives in fisheries extension. Aquaculture Asia Magazine. July- Sept. pp 16-19
• FAO.2007. Infomation and communication technologies benefit fishing communities. New Directions in Fisheries- A Series of Policy Briefs on Development Issues, No.07.Rome.12pp
• Farell, C.O.2003. Theme paper presented for seminar on ICT for improving agricultural productivity and competitiveness. 8-12 Sept. Indonesia.
• Jensen, R. 2007. The Digital Provide IT, Market Performance and Welfare in the South Indian Fisheries Sector. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 122(3), 879-924.
• Jensen, R. and E. Oster.2007. The Power of TV: Cable Television and Women's Status in India, NBER Working Paper 13305.
• Rasheed, S.V. 2003. Innovations in agricultural extensions in India. S.D Dimensions, FAO June 2003