Introduction:

This is an "information age" where the different ways of communicating information have been growing at a rapid pace driven by the need to provide the users with timely valuable information. These technologies are essential for a global economy. However, if information derived from highly technical electronic systems developed, such as:
* GIS system on soil and land information
* Agricultural Statistics
* Marketing Information
* Experiments performed by researchers

Are not made available to the people whose lives are the subject of the results of these systems, then we are failing to fully exploit the large infrastructure investments involved. And we are failing to assist people in making appropriate decisions based on valuable information.

It is not important for participants in a information communication network to become IT or communication professionals; the goal is to provide media that are flexible enough to allow people to articulate and share their ideas.
The need to provide access to timely agricultural information is a necessity in today's agricultural industry. Before we even create such information tools, we ought to involve the ultimate beneficiaries, in this case the farmers, in determining the values of these initiatives and discussing planning approaches.

We must avoid contributing to the gap between the information 'haves' (experts, academics, researchers, policy makers etc) and the information 'have-nots' (usually the ultimate beneficiaries of development work - farmers), a gap that can emerge when we create internet applications to serve only elite researchers and bureaucrats.
We must strive to find ways to bring knowledge producers, such as researchers and policy makers, closer (in the social as well as geographical sense) to the other less recognised knowledge producers - farmers. The Internet can help make this possible. Thanks to the Internet, farmers can also have access to the same information, and many of the same information publications and dissemination tools as researchers at major agricultural universities and research centres. We must ensure that Internet projects are planned with and for the ultimate beneficiaries (farmers) of development programmes.

ICT in agriculture must support and maximise income through the implementation of the followings;

* interactive and collaborative networks among government research and extension agencies, educational institutions, Non - Government Organisation, input suppliers, product buyers, farmer organisations and rural media outlets
* marketing information networks linking local market systems with provincial, national and global systems
* agricultural distance learning and Tele - training programs
* specialised information networks for weather, environmental protection, disease, and pest monitoring, famine and early warning systems.
* enhancing food security
* increasing food productivity and competitiveness
* deepening linkages with other sectors
* creating new sources of growth
* conserving and utilising natural resources on a sustainable basis

This paper highlights the current scenario of the agricultural sector in terms of internet accessibility and connectivity and discusses the potentials of ICT applications for agriculture development, in particular the potential for improving the economic standing of its immediate beneficiaries - the farmers.

Internet Accessibility and Connectivity - Current Senario

The Internet is rapidly expanding in Malaysia. This expansion is however, mainly confined to the urban communities while rural communities are not yet able to take advantage of the services available to their urban counterparts. ICT development and Internet accessibility and connectivity in the agricultural sector, in particular, have been confined largely to within the government ministry concerned, its departments and agencies, research and educational institutions and corporate / private sectors.
The Ministry of Agriculture has spearheaded the utilisation of IT and Internet services in agriculture through the setting up of its Malaysian Agriculture Information Highway, AGROLINK Malaysia (http://agrolink.moa.my). This agriculture resource site being the first in Asia to go on-line provides information of the Ministry, its departments and agencies and the agriculture industry in Malaysia as a whole. IT usage in the agricultural private sector is still at its infancy with only large companies having some form of IT facilities with accessibility to the Internet while most of the medium to small size companies and most farms and estates of smallholders do not have extensive IT facilities to aid their agricultural activities. While agricultural research and educational institutions of higher learning (e.g. universities) can be accessed via the Internet, much is still desired of public accessibility over the Internet to research findings of these institutions for application purposes to aid agricultural development.

ICT (The Internet) And Its Role In Agriculture

The Internet is a global "peoples' network" for communicating and sharing information. It is the first of a long line of ICTs that offers opportunities for two-way and horizontal communication and for opening up new, non-traditional communication channels for farming communities and agricultural development organisations. It offers a means for bridging the gaps between development professionals, rural people and agricultural producers through the initiation of interaction and dialogue. It can foster new alliances and interpersonal networks together with lateral and cross-sector links between organisations. Most importantly it can support mechanisms that enable the bottom-up articulation and sharing of information needs and local knowledge. Primary benefits include increased efficiency in the use of development resources, less duplication of activities, reduced communication costs and global access to information and human resources. These benefits are realised when people work together to make the most of a decentralised and accessible communication tool with the view of creating awareness and finally the introduction of IT to the farmers.

Enormous benefits await rural communities and agricultural organisations when communication improves between non-governmental organisation, government services, private sector entities and educational institutes that support rural and agricultural development. By sharing information about their activities in the fields of agriculture, rural development, forestry, fisheries, health, nutrition, and education, these agencies can better serve rural people and farmers. They can make use of the "lesson learned," determine and use "best practices," and co-ordinate information about particular regions or successful development approaches. At the same time, rural communities and agricultural organisations can benefit equally from improved vertical channels of communication that enable rural stakeholders and farmers to communicate with decision makers and others concerned with development.

Thus we must promote:

* Horizontal communication between agencies linked to rural and agricultural development
* Enable rural people and farmers to enter directly into new vertical communication relationships with external agencies

This integrated approach can be achieved through the establishment of a rural Internet access sites, and by enhancing horizontal communication between entities such as agricultural colleges, agricultural inputs and equipment suppliers, government extension services, rural development organisations, health care agencies, and agricultural research and documentation centres. Such a set-up would provide the farmers with a convenient method for quickly accessing a large volume of information without being impeded by geographic barriers. There will be significant value from the Internet in the form of new ideas, discussion groups, access to experts advice, continuing education resources, increased global understanding and cultural awareness, and information that helps make them better and more informed citizens. There will be social benefits including new opportunities to overcome geographic isolation, increased social interaction, opportunities to organise and advocate for social change, equalisation of urban/rural disparities and new links between urban and rural communities. It will enable them to expand their markets to global audiences and to establish national and global business networks and alliances that would otherwise be inaccessible.

One approach that is being explored by international and national development organisations for providing rural and agricultural access to modern information and communication technologies is through "telecentres". These telecentres can provide access to telephone and fax services, e-mail, Internet and electronic networks, databases and libraries. They can also link to the local media like radio and television thus making telecentre's information accessible to wider audiences. Telecentres should not be seen as just information technology centres. They can also facilitate local sharing of information and help create common local development visions. They are also facilities for organising virtual village to village meetings and tele-training events. Rural telecentres can serve as information "depots" or "hubs" that place regional, national and international information at the fingertips of agricultural development workers - information on markets, weather, crop and livestock production, natural resource protection. Rural telecentres can be a valuable information hub at the centre of a communication network. The application of ICT in telecentres in an integrated effort to support agricultural development should focus on the adaptation of applications and content to the local context so that they are relevant to a particular area of agricultural activity and the training of local telecentre support staff and users.

Today, the Farmers' Organisation Authority (FOA) and the Department of Agriculture (DOA) have networked together an estimate of one (1) million farmers through the set-up of farmers' organisations at the national, state and area levels, and farming groups defined based on the agricultural activities of the group. This network of farmers totalling some 26,500 farmers' organisations units and 3,072 farming groups, and agricultural colleges, rural schools, experiment stations, extension offices, non-governmental organisations offer a ready-made institutional and human network for electronic connectivity.

It is important to recognise that the effective application of the Internet to rural and agricultural development requires an approach that focuses on enhancing information and knowledge sharing both vertically and horizontally. If used effectively, the new ICTs can improve communication among rural communities and agricultural organisations that supports them with research, extension and training for improved food production.
Effectively using communication to improve food security first requires an understanding of the knowledge and information needs of farmers and rural people and then the application of appropriate communication strategies, media and messages. Whilst sections of the business world may want to take advantage of new communication technology in order to encourage people to buy their products rather than those of their competitors, farmers will wish to know the real worth of their produce in the national market, not what the local trader is offering them. The bargaining position of the small producer is strengthened by this access.

Conclusion

The need to provide access to timely agricultural information is a necessity in today's agricultural industry. Information and communication technologies are powerful tools for informing farmers and providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to put agricultural science and production inputs to best use. The planned use of communication technologies can also help them to exchange experiences, find common ground for decisions and actively participate in and guide development activities. A decisive role can be played by communication technologies in promoting human development for food security.
Communication is a key component for sustainable agricultural production and improved food security. The full potential of agricultural development and ensuring food security can only be realised if improved farming knowledge and technology are communicated effectively, and if the rural people - the farmers, are involved in the process and motivated to achieve success.

In conclusion, we must encourage the implementation of an integrated rural Internet development approach in order to improve the economic standing of the farmers. It is not enough for development planners to build wonderful network systems and provide people with computers and modems. Potential users must be made to realise and identify with a vision for beneficial applications, and then they will most likely response with enthusiasm and energy for continuity. Hence we need to address the following:

* Establish rural Internet pilot projects using the existing farmers network established by the Department of Agriculture and the Farmers Organisation Authority
* Support efforts to liberalise telecommunication policies
* Create marketing opportunities for farmers by using WEB applications. In other words, the farmers must be able to buy and sell through the WEB
* Educate personnel in each network points on Internet access
* Improve the agricultural information and allow it to be accessed through the WEB
* Encourage large companies to be involved in WEB marketing - this is demonstrated by the pilot project recommended in the next section
* Create chat groups among the farmers units so that they can share their agricultural experience and problems. The representative of each farmers group organised by FOA or DOA can always initiate this operation.
* Set up the telecommunication, computers, and modems infrastructure for each farmers' group or unit