FG,UNDP,BMGF lunch a centralized knowledge Management Framework for agriculture

Stakeholders at the jointly organized a multi-stakeholder workshop

In a bit to ensure free flow of information and data’s among agric stakeholders, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the United Nation Development Programme ( UNDP) and the World Bank have jointly organized a multi-stakeholder workshop towards ensuring the implementation and lunch of the Knowledge Management (KM) Framework of the Nigerian Agricultural sector.

The essence of the frame work was to establish a yellow page interface through which both the public and private sectors expenditures in agriculture can be easy accessed at a glance without contradiction.  

 Development of the knowledge management framework started in November 2014 with dialogues and interaction with major stakeholders’ endorsement of March 2015 as a strategic initiative take off towards enhancing the knowledge flow between the stakeholder at the Federal, State and Local levels to achieving a robust development of the Sector.

Implementing the Framework requires engaging partners, building capacity of stakeholders, using support tools. The KM workshop which recently held in Abuja brought stakeholders from various works of the sector, such as the research institutes, MDA’s, State Actors, Private Sector and Agribusiness, Civil Society/ Farmers Organization/ CBOs and Development Partners/ Donors in the food value chain to brain storm on how the knowledge Management can be more effective for the use of every stakeholder.

The workshop focused more on detail ways to shape the critical component of the KM/Ks agenda to feed into and validate the Knowledge Management frame work document, including roles and responsibility of governance and management support structure, incentive systems for knowledge sharing budgeting, capacity development, advance and validate the functional and technical design of a knowledge management system KSM to support critical workflow in the sector, using the Yellow Page Online-Organogram Knowledge System towards ensuring effective sharing of in formations on organizations, projects, documents, persons, and good practices/lesson learnt from various stakeholders to be accessed which will  take place through, E-collaboration user-space which will be well structured for impact and development of the agricultural sector using individual suggestions.

The Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who was represented by the director, planning and policy coordination, Mrs Rabi Adamu, said during the lunch of the KMS, to ensure information and knowledge flows between the government at all levels, private sector, civil society and the farmers Organizations all required is the total involvement of all stakeholders in the sector. She stated that the ability to work together as a team will, using the Knowledge Management System will boast the production of the country. 

Adding that the World Bank report 2016 focuses on innovation and this clearly implies that countries that neglect innovation will gradually fall behind. Knowledge management is the vehicle for innovation as well as for enhancing efficiency of programmes and policies. It is critical that we embrace the efforts outlined in the KM framework close to our heart and nurture it to maturity.

Knowledge Management Framework is uniquely a clear outline to address a complex issue. It has been developed in close collaboration with key partners and already guides some of the partners. In this respect, I would like to recognize the GIZ and DFID’s programmes that have aligned their efforts to reinforce the framework.”

The Ministry of Agric permanent secretary Dr. Shehu Ahmed, reading his welcome address said the concept provides the platform for stakeholders to achieve their role in the optimal development of the agricultural sector, saying stakeholders’ limited access to information has resulted in duplication of activities, slow pace in development and wastage of resources.

Food Farm News spoke with the, Director Information Technology  Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development  Mr. Tunde Bello, who pointed that the project is developed by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in pursuit of the development of inclusive and sustained growth framework in the Agricultural Sector to created a strategic initiative to enhance knowledge sharing between Stakeholders at the Federal, State and Local Government levels. He said  Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in collaboration with UNDP/BMGF is desirous to develop a Knowledge Management System (KMS) framework which will support the policies of the Agricultural Sector and also foster learning and knowledge sharing between the Stakeholders. He said ministry has established a technical committee with representative from all departments to drive the overall process, while the ministry has also creates a Yellow Pages Directory which describes the ministry’s services with contacts details. This he said will address one of the questions of investors.

The Director Information Technology added that the platform is already on ground, but working together with Stakeholders in the agric sector, will create more positive impact on Agriculture, as provided information’s on research work and agric related experience, will be at the disposal of relevant stakeholders in the sector. The KM Framework was validated in April 2015 and it is expected to provide the background to the overall project.

The presentative of the farmers Pastor. Bello J. Egwiekhor, President/National Coordinator Imhokhai Farmers Initiative, expressed his gladness over the initiation of the platform, stating that if duly introduce to the local level, it will increase the knowledge base of the farmers at the grassroot level as many of them will gain more experience to increase the yield in food production, which will eradicate poverty and unemployment amongst the youths in the sector. he further added that farmers Organization present at the workshop are happy with the recent development,  because the platform will be replicated at the local level, will not only impact on those at the federal level but, will bring together stakeholders at all levels.

Mr. Paul Ugburo the CEO GAINCODE- Global Alliance Initiative for Community Development, a community base organization, said that the workshop was a wonderful experience and a good news for the Nigeria as the country is currently joining the globe on the information management system. He state that “we have the right platform to make the KMS a success, as it’s already a global thing” as its good Nigeria is a part of the new development, which will create a free flow of information among the grassroot farmers especially. Mr. Paul stresses that with the contributions at the workshop, we should expect headway in the sector.