NARS-ICT Status Report Sultanate of Oman May, 2009

His Majesty’s speech – ICT Highlight 11 Nov 2008 Information technology and communications have now become the main elements that move forward the development process in this third millennium; therefore, we have accorded our attention to finding a national citizens in this domain with the aim of further developing e-government services. We are closely following the important steps that we have made in this regard. We call upon all government institutions to speedily enhance their performance, and to facilitate their services, by applying digital technology in order to usher the Sultanate into the constantly evolving spheres for applying knowledge.

Information Technology (IT) - Oman Information Technology Authority (ITA): www.ita.gov.om National IT Training & Awareness - Government IT Training & Certification in IT (Digital Literacy) aims to provide internationally recognized digital literacy certification to all civil service employees in a phased manner during the period 2008- 2011.Targeting around 100000 employees. - The Community IT Training Project  use of 25 Community Knowledge Centers that will be established in all the governorates and various regions of the Sultanate. - eOman Awareness organizing seminars, conferences and road shows throughout the country

Oman Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA): www.tra.gov.om TRA- Oman Oman Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA): www.tra.gov.om Telecom Service Providers in Oman Omantel Oman Mobile Nawras

Agriculture Information System Agricultural Information System in National Agriculture Research Station(NARS), represented by the Directorate General of Agricultural and Livestock Research Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) Sultan Qaboos University (SQU)

Agriculture in Oman

Cultivated Area & Production Crop 2006 2007 2008   Production (1000 ton.) Area (1000 Fadden) Area (1000 Fadden) Veg. crops 108.05 11.19 130.36 12.26 141.07 14.16 Fruit crops 313 87.88 311.77 88.26 319.71 93.25 Field crops 25.2 18.19 25.18 16.95 24.57 16.28 Fodder crops 564.3 34.21 608.74 36.51 662.50 40.22 Total 1010.55 151.47 1076.05 153.98 1147.85 163.91

(NARS)

Agriculture & livestock Research

Research Capacity in NARS

Information System in NARS (Computer LAB.) (5) server : wireless internet connection 1 mps, (140) computers and (10) laptops. Four different operating systems (Windows XP, 2000, ME and 98). 30 printers

Agricultural Research Library and Documentation Center Library contents ARC Books 5000 Series and periodicals 15 Floppy disks 80 CDs 130 PCs 3 Microfiche reader 1 Special groups Oman issues FAO issues AOAD Library services References services Borrowing to ministry stuff & Students Borrowing between national libraries Current awareness

Internal Server

Moderate ICT strategies and policies Limitations Moderate ICT strategies and policies Inconsistency in collected data and information analysis mechanisms Moderate ICT managerial and technical skills

Ministry of Agriculture Access & Programmers : Site : www.maf.gov.om Census site : www.agrcensus.gov.com 2 ADSL lines ( each 2 MB), leased line (128 kbps ) connected to different Agricultural Directorates in the regions . AIS database: -Research -Extension -livestock -Static -Agr. services Automated Library -Classified library - Electronic books &studies (+7000 input) Automated finance/ administration services.

Agricultural information centre of Oman Institutional foundation for an agricultural information centre which will function as the coordinating unit of a national agricultural knowledge exchange management system, drawing on inputs from existing department within MOA A pilot national agricultural knowledge exchange management system including modules on documents, institutions, experts and projects; facilitating access to other agricultural information services and databases relevant to the Omani agricultural sector; and enabling the exchange of information among stakeholder group

Sultan Qaboos University The Centre for Information Systems The Main Library has recently moved to the new centre, where there is seating for 2000 and space for over 600,000 books and periodicals. Access : www.squ.edu.om/lib/index.html

Electronic Resources Rises in SQU Library 2003 2008 Databases 21 27 Electronic full text journal 1 14 Titles 250 13,000 Book holdings 173,009 300,000 Audio-visual items 12,605 14,500

Conclusion: Requirements and Suggested improvements Effective Implementation of policies and regulations that remove barriers affecting ICT development and adoption Strengthening of Institutional and human capacity Development of linkage mechanisms between researchers and extensions through the use of efficient information and communication technologies Development of sustainable links with regional and international agencies related to ICT support and development Exchange of ICT successful stories between member countries

The End Thank You