NARS-ICT Status Report Sultanate of Oman

1. NARS-ICT Status ReportSultanate of Oman May, 2009

2. His Majesty’s speech – ICT Highlight 11 Nov 2008

3. Information Technology (IT) - Oman • Information Technology Authority (ITA): www.ita.gov.om National IT Training & Awareness - Government IT Training & Certification in IT (Digital Literacy) aims to provide internationally recognized digital literacy certification to all civil service employees in a phased manner during the period 2008- 2011.Targeting around 100000 employees. - The Community IT Training Project use of 25 Community Knowledge Centers that will be established in all the governorates and various regions of the Sultanate. - eOman Awareness organizing seminars, conferences and road shows throughout the country

4. TRA- Oman • Oman Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA): www.tra.gov.om Telecom Service Providers in Oman Omantel Oman Mobile Nawras

6. Agriculture Information System Agricultural Information System in • National Agriculture Research Station(NARS), represented by the Directorate General of Agricultural and Livestock Research • Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) • Sultan Qaboos University (SQU)

7. Agriculture inOman

8. Cultivated Area & Production

9. (NARS)

10. Agriculture & livestock Research

11. Research Capacity in NARS

12. Information System in NARS (Computer LAB.) (5) server : wireless internet connection 1 mps, (140) computers and (10) laptops. Four different operating systems (Windows XP, 2000, ME and 98). 30 printers

13. Agricultural Research Library and Documentation Center • Library contents ARC • Books 5000 • Series and periodicals 15 • Floppy disks 80 • CDs 130 • PCs 3 • Microfiche reader 1 • Special groups • Oman issues • FAO issues • AOAD • Library services • References services • Borrowing to ministry stuff & Students • Borrowing between national libraries • Current awareness

14. Internal Server

15. Limitations • Moderate ICT strategies and policies • Inconsistency in collected data and information analysis mechanisms • Moderate ICT managerial and technical skills

16. Ministry of Agriculture • Access & Programmers : • Site : www.maf.gov.om • Census site : www.agrcensus.gov.com • 2 ADSL lines ( each 2 MB), • leased line (128 kbps ) connected to different Agricultural Directorates in the regions . • AIS database: • -Research -Extension -livestock • -Static -Agr. services • Automated Library • -Classified library • - Electronic books &studies (+7000 input) • Automated finance/ administration services.

18. Agricultural information centre of Oman • Institutional foundation for an agricultural information centre which will function as the coordinating unit of a national agricultural knowledge exchange management system, drawing on inputs from existing department within MOA • A pilot national agricultural knowledge exchange management system including modules on documents, institutions, experts and projects; facilitating access to other agricultural information services and databases relevant to the Omani agricultural sector; and enabling the exchange of information among stakeholder group

19. Sultan Qaboos University The Centre for Information Systems The Main Library has recently moved to the new centre, where there is seating for 2000 and space for over 600,000 books and periodicals. Access : www.squ.edu.om/lib/index.html

20. Electronic Resources Rises in SQU Library

21. Conclusion: Requirements and Suggested improvements • Effective Implementation of policies and regulations that remove barriers affecting ICT development and adoption • Strengthening of Institutional and human capacity • Development of linkage mechanisms between researchers and extensions through the use of efficient information and communication technologies • Development of sustainable links with regional and international agencies related to ICT support and development • Exchange of ICT successful stories between member countries

22. The End Thank You