eChapters

ABSTRACT

Mandarin Orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco.), known as ‘Suntala’ to the local populace, is a major cash crop and was once a pride of Darjeeling hills. It is grown in approximately 930 ha with an annual production of 148.224 metric tones and annual turnover of Rs. 25 crores approximately. Since early 1970s, orange orchards in the Darjeeling hills started to be unproductive inflicting huge economic loss showing severe citrus decline. Gradually the malady assumed alarming proportions and threatening the cultivation of the crop. The major causes for the bottleneck of the citrus industry in Darjeeling hills  is  the heavy incidence of insect pests, diseases and nutritional deficiencies.

ABSTRACT

Expert Systems could be incorporated into extension education programmes to assist in solving problems using knowledge gathered from experts. During the process of problem solving, the Expert System becomes a source of educational material for the user. Hypertext may be incorporated into an Expert System as a means of providing the user with additional information. A hypertext approach to system development involves attaching information to specific phrases used in the system. The form of attached information can be textual, graphical or procedural. The methodology of developing expert system consists of two parts viz., developing computer-based Expert System and testing its effectiveness. The first part includes selection of most relevant subject matter area and procedure used in the development of an Expert System. The second part deals with the research design and technique adopted to test the effectiveness of computer-based Expert System versus human expert.

ABSTRACT

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are for everyone and that does not mean for urban or rural communities. Recent developments in the fields of information and communication technology are indeed revolutionary in nature. By definition, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are a diverse set of technological tools and resources to create, disseminate, store, bring value-addition and manage information. Knowledge thereby becomes the fundamental resource for all economic and developmental activities in the knowledge society, of which rural poor form an equal part. The process of synthesis of knowledge possessed across communities with the global pool of knowledge and with the scope for further enrichment provides the genesis for information sharing.

ABSTARCT

The  Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT) has been working in the agriculture field since, 1999. At present, it is focusing on a Research-based project on the cultivation of Aromatic/ Medicinal plants aiming to promote Medicinal and herbal cultivation and increase the income and participation of community. Initially the grant -in-aid is being provided to some farmer groups in  Shilogi village of Tehri District and  Malethi village in Pauri District.  These farmers came forward and offered their land for research work. The project supported the community through both, backward and forward linkages. Rural Development Institute, HIHT, is facilitating the whole operation, from choosing the coordinators to the advisory agencies. RDI is trying to make sure a proper people (especially poor) friendly delivery mechanism through village Resource Centre.

ABSTRACT

Jharkhand state is endowed with vast and rich natural resources. It’s 80 per cent population resides in 32,620 villages and depends mainly on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. Rural population in Jharkhand still suffers from several ailments, weakness and constraints which come in the way of the use of ICT for agricultural development. Low level of literacy, poor socio-economic status, low penetration of extension services, language barrier, lack of electricity, etc., are some of the problems due to which  the farmers are unable to access the latest techniques in farming through different ICT services and are using the traditional knowledge and techniques which yields very less.

ABSTRACT

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the driving force for the fundamental economic and social revolution. It accelerates globalization, makes access to knowledge and information much easier for the people in respect of creation of technologies, diffusion of old innovation and diffusion of human skills for rural prosperity. The National Conference on Informatics for Sustainable Agriculture Development (ISDA) organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and National Informatics Centre (NIC), in May 1995, has given much needed “roadmap” to usher in “ICT led agriculture development” in the country.

ABSTRACT

The Cellular technology (mobile phone) is becoming popular day by day with companies up with low price handsets and nearly one-fourth of the India’s population possess a mobile phone even in the rural areas. The Indian government has set a target of 500 million users by 2010; half of this, 250 million, has reached till 2007 (IANS). Keeping in view the scenario, messaging agricultural information through computers to the end users on mobile phone is a means, which will go a long way for the farmers to receive timely information. There are different media platforms through which farmer’s access information in India. This includes radios, television, print, person to person and so many others. However, with the rapid growth in technology, there is a strong belief that there is a need to extend the mobile phones’ use to agriculture sector.

ABSTRACT

Farmers in India are at the mercy of traders especially the middlemen who fix lower rates at the farmers end. The farmers are desperate as they are not aware of the prices elsewhere and they have meager produce at their hand. Market led agriculture is need of the hour which needs market intelligence. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in collaboration with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Hyderabad centre initiated the project for the benefit of farmers and traders covering six major markets of South India as Pilot project. Main emphasis of the project is covering Perishable items of 161 commodities, updating the daily wholesale and retail price through www.tnau.ac.in/ www.indg.in @ 1.00 PM with the help of Market Analysts recruited for this purpose. Ensuring the last mile connectivity and reaching the large number of users, the price information is being delivered through Mobile phone. This paper also explains about its additional features.

ABSTRACT

ICT has seen its vertical as well as horizontal growth in various domains, be it rural livelihood sectors and governance. India is well poised to take the benefits of ICT to the common man. There has been consistent progress in addressing the challenges that exists - be it infrastructure or social barriers. The India Development Gateway (InDG) initiative is in response to limitations that exist at the social front. InDG facilitates rural empowerment through provision of relevant information products and services that respond to the real and strategic needs of the rural communities, in their local languages.

ABSTRACT

India’s North-East is predominantly hill agriculture based and endowed with rich natural resources for the development. The average rainfall in the region is the highest in the country. However, low agricultural productivity and food in-security are largely prevalent in the North- East India. Lack of adequate information on advanced farm technologies, market intelligence and rural development schemes led to the income poverty in the region. The limited technical manpower, lack of transport and communication facilities, inadequate financial support to the technology transfer and less infrastructure facility creates huge technological gap among  rural tribal farming community.

ABSTRACT

Village Resource Centre (VRC) provides information services to the rural population to empower them to face day to day challenges. In this line, the Department of Space, ISRO & RRSSC is bringing its space technology to common man by setting up of Village Resource Centres, with a view to integrate the capabilities of communication and remote sensing satellites to address the changing and critical needs of rural communities. VRC is totally interactive VSAT based network for providing space enabled information related to land records, natural resources, drinking water wells, ground water recharge, soil types, alternate cropping pattern, waste lands, etc. VRCs also provide  variety of services in its tele-education and tele-medicine programmes, online decision support, weather forecasting, water management, interactive farmers advisory services (video conferencing) etc.

ABSTRACT

The Village Knowledge Centre programme was started in January 1998 in the Union Territory of Pondicherry (now Puducherry) in the east coast of South India with the support of IDRC and CIDA. In order to ensure access to all, the VKCs are located in public buildings (Panchayats, SHG’s building, Community Hall, School, Farmers and Fishermen Associations, Women Self-Help Groups, Community Based Organization, etc.,). The information content is developed in close interaction with the local people in a bottom-up manner.

ABSTRACT

Recent advances in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have changed the way we live, learn and interact.  They have transformed the way knowledge is produced, processed, retrieved and transferred between different stakeholders. The innovative ICT applications are dominating and driving the development scholarship and thinking in agriculture sector. The increasing availability and use of the Information and Communication Technologies offers the Extension System and all its stakeholders/partners an undeniable opportunity to redefine the way it provides information and interacts with farmers. ICTs are not just a new tool for information dissemination; it is empowering and changing the very culture of society’s information-seeking behavior. And Extension must change, too.

ABSTRACT
 
The term rural development also represents improvement in quality of life of rural people in villages. As per Chambers (1983) “Rural Development is a strategy to enable a specific group of people, poor rural women and men, to gain for themselves and their children more of what they want and need.”  ICT is an integral part of development strategies of both developing and developed countries. It has great potential to bring in the desired social transformations by enhancing access to people, services, information and other technologies (Dutton et al., 2004). ICT applications can enhance poor people’s opportunities by improving their access to markets, health and education. Furthermore, ICT can empower the poor by expanding the use of government services and reduce risks by widening access to micro finance (Cecchini and Scott, 2003). The uses of ICT for development are actively promoted for economic development, job-creation, rural development and poverty-alleviation. The term ‘ICTs’ can be interpreted as including a wide range of media, ‘new ICTs’ is used to denote “the use of computers and communication systems between computers” (CTA 1999:4).

ABSTRACT

Agriculture is an important sector of economy that ensures food security of the nation. About 58 per cent of the Indian population is engaged in Agriculture and planners are concerned to increase agriculture productivity. The National Knowledge Commission has also looked into various problems of this sector and made some recommendations from the knowledge perspective. This paper includes review of existing plans and programs for improvement of knowledge accessibility to Indian farmers. Article also discusses how the Information Communication Technology (ICT) applications, especially, the hand held devices like mobile phones can improve knowledge accessibility in the agriculture sector and describes how the ongoing programs of mobile telephony are helping Indian farmers.

ABSTRACT

In the recent years, the notion of ‘digital divide’ has been widely researched and has attracted much debate and speculation for its economic, social and political consequences. Existing studies reveals, the gap that exists between those who have access to ICTs and those who do not create exclusion, endanger social integration and hamper economic growth. The digital divide has many dimensions and can be categorized as global, regional and national. At national level, there is no single divide, but multiple divides: for instance; within countries, between men and women, young and elderly, rich and poor and most importantly rural and urban. The present paper is mainly focused on India and tries to explore the problem of digital divide mainly in rural-urban India. In the context of present paper, digital divide essentially means teledensity, mobile and Internet divide between the rural and urban areas. The paper reveals that obstacles such as illiteracy, lack of skills, infrastructure,  and investment in rural areas must be tackled if India is to diminish the gap of digital divide. At the government front, it should put thrust towards: connectivity provision, content creation, capacity augmentation, core technologies creation and exploitation, cost reduction, competence building, community participation and commitment to the deprived and disadvantaged which would definitely help in bridging digital divide.

Introduction

As we all know that the 21st century has witnessed the changing phenomenon of information and its communication resulting a dynamic transformation not only in the social structure but also in the perception of human mind.  Exchange of information and knowledge has empowered the human being and enabled them to achieve sustainable development. From paper- based society to paperless society, information has remained the most valuable commodity.

Introduction

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is the apex body for co-coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country with more than hundred and above ICAR libraries and fifty six state agricultural universities libraries spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural library network in the in the country under consortium of e-Resources in Agriculture. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has contributed a lot towards strengthening of Agricultural Libraries via modern Information Technological (IT) tools. ICAR has sanctioned so many projects under National Agricultural Technology Project and National Agricultural Innovative Projects i.e e-Granth, CeRA, Krishiprabha, Krishikosh Agricat etc. for strengthening and development of agricultural libraries. These are useful to manage knowledge explosion and helpful in libraries to providing information effectively to the end user of society.

Introduction

E-publishing and information accessing have become easy and convenient mainly because of Internet and the World Wide Web technologies. Most digital libraries were developed in the past by taking up projects based on specific disciplines and then developed into full-fledged digital libraries. The inter-networking communication links, low cost storage solutions, powerful desktops, workstations, servers and multimedia hardware and software technologies are now available for initiating the Digital Library projects in India. Development in ICT (Information Communication technology) have brought about the merger of the computing, information, Communication, entertainment, mass media industries thereby providing a means of exchanging information in the digital format used by computers.

Introduction

Marketing and promotion are important for any organization that provides services to consumers. Marketing and promotion allow an organization to inform, remind, or persuade the consumers by sharing information about goods or services, community involvement, or societal impact. Simply stated, these efforts encompass anything libraries do to let the community know who they are, what they do, and what they offer. The goal of marketing is to keep the product in the minds of the customer: in the case of libraries it is to keep the customer aware of the library, to provide them with knowledge about the library’s physical features, resources, services, programs, and events, and to let them know about the benefits libraries offer. Marketing and promotion benefit the library by increasing usage, educating users, and increasing or at least maintaining a positive perception of the library.

Introduction

Due to the advent of new technologies now-a-days e-resources became more popular and essential. The information technology has made it possible the availability and accessibility of e-resources. The e-resources are made available both online and offline. Further some are free and some are paid. The free e-resources can be accessed anywhere and anytime on the discretion of the user. But for the paid e-resources to get comprehensive access by using best possible tools and techniques is the library. Multiple resources in the present electronic environment can be seamlessly integrated with a single login gateway which makes is user friendly. Further the explosive growth in network connectivity and rapid advances in computing power systems have altered the speed of communications. Recent advances in the information world have transformed the role of libraries in disseminating information to users. Increase in the number of users and their different needs have made modern libraries apply new communication technology. As a result of this there is a worldwide need and trend to collect, organize, manage, protect and distribute information in digital form.

1. Introduction

Over the years, the library and information environment has seen remarkable changes in its collection, organization and services due to impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT). One of the most significant benefits which libraries have acquired with the help of ICT during past two decades is the Institutional Repositories (IR). IR has changed the image and importance of academic libraries in preserving the institutional knowledge to a great extend. "With the rapid development of Information Communication Technology (ICT), many new services have been introduced in libraries to satisfy the need of users in a better way. Institutional Repository is a type of information service which involves collection, organization, preservation and dissemination of digital scholarly materials such as theses, dissertations, technical reports, journal articles and teaching materials.

1. Introduction

Electronic journals are an important source for scientific technical research and development. This resource is widely used by research and development workers and other users of the libraries to carry out qualitative research, education and gain knowledge. In recent years there has been a surge in the number of electronic journals available to libraries for their users to access. More titles are made available by publishers and subscription agents. There is a common view amongst Liberians that libraries are forsaking traditional print resources in favor of electronic resources. With the application of information technology, particularly internet, there has been a shift from traditional print journal to electronic journals. This type of use survey is essential to improve the existing library services, to plan new services, rationalize the use of the limited financial resources in an economic way, evaluate the performance of the library and enhance the user satisfaction.

1. Introduction
 
Today we are living in the Era of Information. Over last decade, electronic resources have become increasingly substantial components of academic library collection. This is due to the continuous development of Information Technology and its impact on library collection development policies due to changing demand of users for the pin pointed and exhaustive information within a short time. With the growing popularity of e-resources, the traditional libraries are gradually migrating from print documents to e- resources where providing access to information is considered more important than owning it. This is further augmented by the advent of Internet. Which has opened up windows of opportunity to different Information sources.

1. Introduction

Radio Frequency Identification popularly known as RFID is a term used for a radio-enabled device that communicates with or interrogates a tag or smart label, which is embedded with a single microchip processor and an antenna. "This is an automatic identification method that relies on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices such as RFID tags or transponders (Mamdampur and Rajgoli, 2011)". This technology is similar in concept to a cell phone (Singh and Midha, 2008) which refers to the subset of automatic identification that uses radio waves to automatically identify bulk or individual items (Chavan, 2012).While the origin of RFID lie more than 50 years in the past, passive RFID technology is actually only in its infancy (Sarma, 2008).

Introduction
 
Library automation in the first giant step towards the use of ICT based products & services in libraries. It brings great revolution and saves tremendous time of users and library staff for collecting and disseminating information. Library automation refers to use of computers, associated peripheral media such as software for automation, magnetic tapes, disks, optical media etc. Library automation makes the provision to provide the 'right information to right reader at the right time in a right form in a right personal way' it is the basic aim of libraries. There are some open source software available e.g. Evergreen, CDS Invenio, Koha, NewGenLib, PMB, PhpMyLibrary, OpenBiblio as well as many commercial software: SOUL, Alice for windows, Netlib, LibSys etc.

Introduction
 
Electronic resources for libraries includes online databases , electronic( e-) journals , electronic(e-) books ,full text articles and web sites, where online journals have firmly established themselves as essential resources for libraries and information centers  and their users, as appointed books in most of disciplines. Electronic books (e-books) have not found the same favour. The potential of e-books to support learning activity has been acknowledged, and new services have emerged in recent years, but uptake has been slow.

Introduction

Studies have indicated that four significant forces viz. IT, Mobile, Cloud and Social Media would create unique work environment in the coming years. Social media presents both opportunities and challenges. It has reached a stage where a single tweet can make or mar an organization. It has emerged as a force to reckon with.

Introduction

Increasing quantum of information being generated and distributed in electronic form and management of these resources has become a real challenge to the library professionals.  How to integrate and handle this information increasing at phenomenal speed and how quickly and effectively it can be accessed and provided is the real concern. This has given rise to the concept of 'poly-media library'. This concept has brought to the front the importance of Information Literacy (IL) for academic pursuits as well as for life-long learning.

Introduction

Information Technology (I.T.) with its multi advantageous services has influenced the working of every sector whether it is education, industries, livelihood, agriculture, and other sectors viz government, business, health, employment, environment and security etc. Consequently, taking the benefit of I.T.,  most of the organizations have automated their systems to perform their routine activities in a better way as well as to offer more improved services.

Introduction

The total area of education is continuously changing where imperative information is exploring constantly.  There is highest need of information and knowledge for best and efficient education and the library plays a vital role in it. The users demand various aspects of information and enhanced quality of information service. Therefore present day’s library has gone from traditional environment to e-environment. We can use e-journals, e-books; CD & DVD etc .Library consortia play a most important role of academic libraries.

Inroduction

In the present I.T. (Information Technology) environment a number of libraries are being converted into digital libraries as the advantages of being a digital library is now well understood by every one. Over the years information has been produced digitally and libraries have become major providers of information in digital format. The information managers should have knowledge of computer, networking, internet and digital resources, etc to manage these resources and provide access to end users.

1. Bibliometric

Bibliometrics is the application of quantitative techniques to analyze the volume, the movement, the frequency and the characteristics, etc of published documents and the related activities. Alan Pritchard was first to use the word “Bibliometrics” in an article “Statistical Bibliography or Bibliometrics” published in the 1969 issue of the “Journal of Documentation”. He defines Bibliometrics as “the application of mathematical and statistical methods to books and other media of communication.” In a later article, Pritchard explained Bibliometrics as the “metrology of the information transfer process and its purpose is analysis and control of the process”. Bibliometrics is a set of methods used to study or measure texts and information (Wikipedia, 2011).

Introduction

There are a growing number of academics and publishers who believe quite firmly that once the transition from print to electronic journals has been made — particularly within the scientific, medical and technical (STM) sector of the journals market — there will be no role for libraries in the scholarly communication chain. Electronic journals can be delivered directly from the publisher  to the user’s desktop. Such a scenario is certainly possible, but it is unlikely for a number of reasons.

Paperless to Paperless Libraries

Ancient Gurus in ancient Gurukulas used to impart knowledge to their pupils through oral teaching. The Gurus themselves were treasure troves of knowledge, without the need to refer to hard and soft copies, and online resources. How interesting it is to note we are right now in a nostalgic phase, that takes us back to those ages, when disciples were taught, learned and accumulated oceans of knowledge through oral and moving libraries, which were in the form of their revered Gurus. It is truly fascinating how history has flair to repeat itself. The long-driven transition from paperless back to paperless, that is, from oral instruction through palm leaves through copper plates through virtual paper through electronic to digital libraries is as arduous as it is fascinating. Hence the million dollars question … where to from here – Digital Library, whither thou goest?

Introduction

The past few years have been characterized by changes in every walk of life and libraries are no exceptions. Certainly there have been profound changes in the ways we approach and manage libraries and provide basic library services such as bibliographic control, document delivery, presentation, and physical facilities for reading.  The evolution of traditional interlibrary loan services into a full range of document delivery services, new avenues for document acquisions and delivery from traditional methods to “high tech” with the most efficient pathway defined by the user within desired cost and time parameters have set new standard for library resources and services management.

Introduction

The basic concept of digital libraries is the sharing of information and resources globally for providing right and nascent information to the right user at the right time. It is the computing terminals having linkage to different sources of information in electronic or digital form. Digital library is a collection of information that is both digitalized and born in digital form, which offer capabilities beyond those of the agricultural and traditional libraries. Digital library is not only digitization of physical resources, but also thoughtful organization of electronic collection for better access.

Introduction

Electronic resources represent an increasingly important component of the library collection building. “Electronic resources” refer to those materials that require computer access, whether through a personal computer, mainframe, or handheld mobile device. They may either be accessed remotely via the Internet or locally. Some of the most frequently encountered types are:

Introduction

The library and information centre is an important component of any educational institution. It is a hub of specific information where the end users can explore the vast resources of information. In the era of old age libraries users had to spend more time for searching a small piece of information and for that had to depend on library professionals. But now we are living in the age of information and communication technology, computers are being used for day-to-day work of library which saves the time of users and avoid the redundancy work of library staff.

Introduction

The innovative use of web technologies enables us to reach both local and distant users much more easily and effectively. Technologies such as email and Web provide tremendous opportunities for library & Information Scientists to deliver the information to the desktops of users. Web offers significant advantage by integrating different library & information services with a common user interface offered by Web browsers.

Introduction

The Web-enabled infrastructures, practices and strategies are creating confusions disruptions for virtually every institution and enterprise. The responses to these disruptions are progressively leading to new practices, business models, and strategies in a variety of domains posing challenges to the profession of librarianship. The acquisition, assimilation, and sharing of knowledge is one such sphere that is really experiencing a revolution.

Introduction

Cloud computing is now evolving like never before, with all types of establishments irrespective of shapes and sizes adapting to this new technology. The experts believe that this trend will continue to grow and develop even further in the coming years. While cloud computing is undoubtedly beneficial for mid-size to large establishments, it is not without its downsides, especially for smaller establishment.

Introduction

The libraries of 2020 become multi-media centres of information resources, leaving behind their dull and drab image of repositories of old dusty books materials like micro-films, audio and video cassettes. Various electronic products for use both off line and on line representing the special type of materials need special equipments of different makes for their effective use.

Introduction

Modern libraries have evolved from paper-based storehouse of books and journals into network of digitized information and knowledge, now known as digital libraries. Libraries these days have consortia, and use electronic resources and databases so that they can provide better services to the users. Librarianship has shifted from use of printed and manually operated system to world wide access to information. Modern academic library is a conglomeration of printed books and journals as well as electronic resources where both forms of the documents can be stored, retrieved and delivered as and when required.

Introduction

Libraries are universally recognized as important social institutions for diffusion of knowledge and information. The modern and highly equipped libraries are found in the universities since they are the centers of higher education, training and research. The universities libraries are essential to achieve the objective of university education and research.

Introduction

While tracing the history of veterinary medicine, we come across the Chinese writings about the diseases of horses, oxen and buffalos in the past about 2500 B. C. Similarly we can find about 4000 years old.  Indian art showing the people caring the horses and elephants. Even we can find in the art about ancient Egypt how they cared for their cattle and dogs health. The Ancient Romans had a word for the people that are doctors for animals, which is, veterinarius. In about A.D. 500 a Roman wrote a book on what veterinarians do.  In 1598, Carlo Ruini, an Italian author wrote a book named as, “Anatomy of the Horse”.