A Brief Introduction to
Agriculture Information Service
Ministry of
Introduction
Agriculture Information Service (AIS) have been working under the
Ministry of Agriculture since its establishment in 1961. AIS have been playing
a significant role in the agriculture sector providing mass media support.
Meanwhile, AIS has proved that mass communication is one of the strongest
methods in transferring technology among the rural people. AIS have the mandate
to transfer agricultural technology through mass media like radio, television,
documentary film and print media specially poster, folder, leaflet, booklet,
newsletter, magazine, banner, festoon and so on.
The Agriculture sector has been identified as the most
important sector for the socio-economic development of the country and so
government has taken initiative on priority basis to enhance agricultural
production. So agriculture needs to be strengthened today for better
socio-economic development. On the other hand information is known as power of
present era of modern society and media is the most important component of
communication channel for dissemination of information. AIS work with
agro-based information dissemination using different media. At present, AIS is
going to be known as a powerful media-house of the agriculture sector in
In
Appropriate media network can bring an effective response
in development activities. So, mass media or mass communication is recognized
as one of the most important services to introduce or
transfer of modern technology to the farmers. At present, the overall
activities of AIS are being needed to be upgraded enriching print and
electronic media with modern facilities and production of communication tools.
The task force for 25 million
tons food grain production, the committee of action plan for oil crop
production and the policy makers of New Agriculture Extension Policy and
National Seed Board for National Seed Policy entrusted responsibility to AIS
for creating awareness in the respective field through print and electronic
media. Considering the importance of mass communication for proper and
effective implementation of said programmes a project entitled 'Strengthening
of Agriculture Information Service' was taken up. Moreover, AIS identified four
major components of mass media to strengthen under the development project,
i.e. print, video camera, documentary film and training for human resources
development. Print media is an important tool for transfer of technology to the
literate farmers and field workers at the grass root level. But it may help
illiterate farmers also who have literate kids and neighbours. So, AIS has a
commitment to ensure regular supply of low cost Agro-farm magazine, leaflets,
folders, flip chart, booklets and other print materials to the rural people in
time. So, one Bi-colour Offset printing machine with modern facilities was
procured.
At present television is the
most powerful, popular and effective media in technology transfer. Mati-o-Manush is a popular farm programme of
Television. AIS is providing technical support to BTV
in planning, designing and developing this programme.
Agricultural programme is always
time-bound and seasonal. Failure in timely recording/shooting of a particular
item, one may have to wait up to the next season for a particular Video show.
So, a field based programme, like Mati-o-Manush
requires logistic on emergent basis such as Camera Unit and transport
facilities. But as ending of the project AIS cannot assist
properly by supplying camera unit along with transport facilities. In
this situation, AIS cannot produce and edit Mati-O-Manush
and agricultural technology based TV spot, Filler and Documentary film for the
rural farm families as well as extension workers of GOs
and NGO's.
Moreover, documentary films and
video projection by the mobile vans in thee rural areas that have also positive
impacts in transfer of technology as mass people of the rural areas can get a
chance to access in modern technologies not only without cost but also in a
recreational way, but AIS cannot practice this job due to lack of logistic
support. In addition, AIS has given emphasis on human resources development by
providing training who are involved in Development Communication, specially in rural broadcasting. Officials from Department
of Agriculture Extension, Department of Livestock Service, Department of
Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Department of
Agricultural Marketing, Department of Forests and Non-Government Organizations
(NGOs) including scientists from different Research Organisations like BARI,
BRRI, SRDI, SRI sometimes act as broadcaster either from national or regional
Radio centre. So, it is necessary to develop skill of those broadcaster’s
on technique of writing and presentation of Radio Script by proper training.
But no financial support for training programme AIS cannot arrange training
programmes on transfer of agricultural technology or development communication
programme that include print media with electronic media.
Establishment of new Regional
offices at Rangamati, Comilla
and
Vision
AIS has the vision to act as a bridge between the research and farmers
through modern and effective communication facilities in print and electronic
media for providing necessary information at right time to the overall
development of agriculture community establishing as a strong media
organization, knowledge-bank, information network centre for agriculturists,
farmers and entrepreneurs.
The mission of AIS is to create awareness among rural
people through media communication for the improvement of their livelihood by
practicing with modern agricultural technologies.
Organisational set-up
The Head Office is situated in
Staffing Strength
At present there are 204 positions in AIS headed by the
Director as the chief of the organization. It has human resources with multi
dimensional expertise that is working both in print and electronic media. In
print and electronic media sector we have human resource that can run the
present job, but in ICT sector we have very limited human resource.
Main Activities
We work both in print
and electronic media. Our channel of print media are Books, Magazines,
Journals, News letter, Posters, Folders, Leaflets, Booklets, Reports, Flip
chart, Flash card, Statistics etc. Our electronic media productions are Radio
clips, TV programme, Film show, Video documentary, Spot, TV Filler, Talk show
etc. However, we observe International Day like World Food Day and national
events like National Fruit Tree Plantation. We provide training programme on
Development Communication in Agriculture to the agricultural media personnel
who participate in print and electronic media.
i) Regular
Publication
|
Sl |
Item |
Quantity |
|
01 |
Krishikatha |
Monthly 52,000 copies (Magh 1412) |
|
02 |
Samprasaran Barta |
Monthly 1,000 copies(Magh 1412) |
|
03 |
Agriculture Diary 2005 |
10,000 copies (2006) |
ii) Occasional Publication
|
Sl |
Item |
Quantity (2005) |
|
01 |
Poster |
200,000 |
|
02 |
Booklet |
24,500 |
|
03 |
Leaflet |
115,500 |
|
04 |
Sticker |
70,000 |
|
04 |
Telephone directory |
2,000 |
|
05 |
Souvenir |
15,500 |
iii) However AIS publishes different print
materials as per demand of different departments under Ministry of Agriculture.
A list is here:
|
Department |
Item |
Month of Print |
Quantity |
|
CDB |
Leaflet |
January 2005 |
10,000 |
|
PPW, DAE |
Certificate |
January 2005 |
173 |
|
NCDP, DAE |
Folder |
February 2005 |
240,000 |
|
BARC |
Journal |
February 2005 |
900 |
|
MoA |
Book |
February 2005 |
1000 |
|
MoA |
DO pad |
March 2005 |
2,500 |
|
AIS, Rangpur |
Pad |
March 2005 |
2,500 |
|
MoA |
Invitation Card |
March 2005 |
15,500 |
|
DAE |
File cover |
April 2005 |
5000 |
|
DAE |
Log book |
April 2005 |
5000 |
|
NCDP, DAE |
Folder |
April 2005 |
120,000 |
|
MoA |
Annual report |
May 2005 |
300 |
|
NCDP, DAE |
Certificate |
May 2005 |
10,000 |
|
CCW, DAE |
Training Manual |
June 2005 |
400 |
|
CCW, DAE |
Certificate |
June 2005 |
5,000 |
|
CCW, DAE |
Booklet |
June 2005 |
5,000 |
|
CCW, DAE |
Folder |
June 2005 |
10,000 |
|
SRDI |
Recommendation Card |
June 2005 |
20,000 |
|
SRDI |
Folder |
June 2005 |
11,000 |
|
SRDI |
Poster |
July 2005 |
11,000 |
|
SRDI |
Folder |
July 2005 |
20,000 |
|
|
Annual Report |
August 2005 |
300 |
|
BARC |
Journal |
August 2005 |
200 |
|
BARC |
Proceedings |
August 2005 |
300 |
i)
Farm Broadcasting Unit
1.
Notional Programme (daily) ----------------------- 25 Minutes
2.
Regional programme (10 Station)
·
Morning programme
(daily)------------------- 30 Minutes
·
Evening programme
(weekly------------------ 270 Minutes
ii) Bangladesh Television
1.
Regular programme
Mati o- Manush
·
Every Sunday from
·
Every Wednesday from
2.
Occasional programme
·
TV Spot
·
TV Telop
·
Discussion
i)
Publication of Supplement: Fruit Tree Campaign, World Food Day, Rat Control
ii) Press Release: Publicity of
Press release relating meeting, Seminar, Inaugural Function.
iii) Paper Clipping: 500 paper
clipping sent to different organisations this year.
iv)
Training on development communication in
Agriculture: 4 batches each of 25 Scientists and extensionists
of GO and NGOs in 2005.
v)
Publicity regarding Fruit tree campaign, World Food Day, National Rat control,
Agricultural Fair, National Agricultural Conference.
Present physical and human
resource Strength
a)
Physical and other components
i)
Bi-colour offset press machine-1
ii)
Single colour press machine-1,
about 25 years old and out of order
iii)
Camera unit with editing
facilities to make the programme ready to telecast through BTV
iv)
Studio for programme making of
radio and television
v)
Photography unit
vi)
Computers,
computer accessories for H/Q and Regional Offices
vii) Vehicles-3
(old), cinema van-6, pick up-1
viii) A website (not up-to-date) along with a
prepaid dial up connection for electronic mailing
b)
Human resource
At present AIS has a sanctioned
strength of 204 nos. of officers and supporting staff.
Status of ICT
ICT sector of AIS is not up-to-date. We have
a few PC, a dial-up email connection and an incomplete website. We need strong
training for the HRD and ICT equipment facilities to run it well.
Main constraints/problem
Before 1986, total manpower of AIS was 314 nos. In
1986 according to the Government decision 4 Regional Stations with 110 manpower
and materials were transferred to Fisheries and Livestock Ministry. As a
result, this created a serious dislocation in the normal field activities
including farm-broadcasting activities at Regional level. To overcome this
situation a project entitled Strengthening of Agriculture Information
Service was taken in 1999. The project ended in June 2004. So activities of
AIS in
a)
Cinema projection was stopped due to lack of fuel
of 6 cinema van purchased under the project.
b)
Obsolete single colour
press machine need to be repaired and we need more press machine(s) as volume
of work increases day by day. Some other press equipment like positive output
machine, folding machine, and stitching machine are lacked.
c)
Though we have an audio-visual unit we cannot use
this unit due to lack of technical posts like Cameraman, Video Editor and
Technical Participants as project ended.
d)
We have not enough vehicles to run our activities
smoothly.
e)
ICT, most promising sector, is poor due to lack of
equipment facilities and experienced manpower.
Scopes
AIS have the aim for agricultural
technology transfer using different media and we can achieve our target through
the institutional development. To overcome above constraints we can consider
the following fields in this regard.
1. Strengthening of existing
electronic media system including rural broadcast and farm telecast programme for technology dissemination towards farming
community.
2. Global and local network in
relation to information communication technology development for information
sharing and exchange of knowledge among the resource personnel of GO, NGO
stakeholders, entrepreneurs and farmers.
3. Development of printing capacity
both in quality and quantity for timely production and distribution among
farming community.
4. Establishment of archives and
library for the preservation of print and electronic media production related
to agriculture for ensuring maximum use.
5. Capacity building of AIS personnel
as professional media-men to deliberate information in mass media and the
community.
6. Strengthening regional stations as
well as national level networking.
Project of AIS
a) Project Title:
Strengthening of Agriculture Information Service (Second phase)
b) Sponsoring Ministry/Division: Ministry of Agriculture,
c)
Objectives of the Project:
i) Strengthen, Intensify and modernized dissemination of Agricultural
Information through Print and Electronic media;
ii) To organize training/ Workshop for the GO - NGO extension officials
and Scientists to increase their capability to work as farm broadcasts in
different mass media;
iii)
Provide substantial support to continue
the programme & activities that were undertaken in the project
"Strengthening of AIS" (First phase).
d)
Cost of the Project (in BDT): Total: 149.95 Million (GOB
Fund)
e) Project Implementation period: July 2005 to June 2008
f)
Project Director: Director, Agriculture Information Service