IICD supported project: Ghana Agricultural Information Network Collaboration Using ICT (GAINS) - Ghana

This project has established an Agricultural Information Centre with 10 computers, based at the Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (INSTI) in Accra. This Centre acts as the referral centre for information requests on agriculture. It also links electronically with eighteen participating libraries and information centres of agriculture-related research institutes. The objective is to provide effective and efficient information delivery to 150 researchers and extension workers by giving them the opportunity to access, share, and publish agricultural information on a web platform. IICD has supported the project between 2002 and 2007 and it is now mainstreamed into the general activities of the institute.

From the 1st of November 2007 the project is mainstreamed into the general activities of the Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (INSTI).

Results from the project to date include:

• The infrastructure (computers, network and connectivity) is installed and operational
• A website is established
• On-line databases are up and running
• Capacity has been built: Staff training has started and is on-going and the training of researchers and scientist has also started

Interview with Joel Sam during the IICD projectnode

GAINS is a Coordinating Centre, based at the Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (INSTI) in Accra. The Coordinating Centre acts as the referral centre for information requests on agriculture and allied disciplines. The centre also coordinates activities of eighteen libraries and information centres of agriculture-related research institutes and faculties of agriculture of the universities in Ghana. Objective is to prove effective and efficient information delivery to users. This also supports the sector policy as CSIR-INSTI operates within the broad framework of the overall CSIR corporate objective, which seeks to co-ordinate all aspects of scientific research in the country.

Read more about IICD’s Ghana Country Programme.

• Capacity building at both the Coordinating Centre and the nodal points to ensure effective networking 
• Establishing an effective system for collection development of relevant literature
• Creating and maintaining computerized databases of, for instance, indigenous literature on agriculture
• Providing tailor-made selective dissemination of information and current awareness services to research scientists, policy makers, and extension officers
• Establishing appropriate mechanisms for document delivery and inter-library lending service among the participating libraries of the network.

The project should improve the access to agricultural research information for local researchers. This published information could then be re-packaged by agricultural extension workers to reach the farmers to improve their productivity and quality of produce.

Read more about IICD’s approach towards Livelihoods.

GAINS is managed by a nine-member Board with representations from MOFA, Research institutes and the Universities. The Deputy Director-General (Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sector) of the CSIR is the Chairman of the Board with the coordinator of GAINS as member/secretary. The Board meets at least thrice a year and exercises supervisory role and advises on matters of policy to guide the operational activities of the network. There is a committee of participating libraries that meet on quarterly basis to discuss strategies for implementing the network activities. The GAINS coordinator, who is also responsible for handling the day-to-day activities of the programme, chairs this committee.