.::. BAR Chronicle .::. A monthly publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

Information and knowledge that are well managed is indispensable in every organization. This is an imperative and an asset to an organization that strives to be adept with the world’s latest innovations. But sharing and making them immediately available both for clients’ use anytime is another thing.

To overcome this, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) is implementing the project, “Agriculture and Fisheries R&D Information System (AFRDIS) Enhancement Project.”

Generally, the project aims to improve the quality of knowledge management in agriculture and fisheries R&D through information and communications technology.

Specifically, it has three main objectives: 1) enhance R&D information system databases and networking among R&D institutions and concerned stakeholders; 2) promote the exchange and dissemination of R&D information and knowledge through central access to information that is localized in decentralized databases; and 3) implement efficient M&E system on agriculture and fisheries R&D through the application of Internet.

AFRDIS is a comprehensive information system designed to strengthen the knowledge management capabilities and capacities of the National R&D System for Agriculture and Fisheries (NaRDSAF). The System serves as a virtual repository of knowledge that provides access across a coordinated network of institutions, systems, and data banks. Since it is a web-based information system, it functions as a gateway to the national information resources with specific regional focus and provides information services to various types of end-users, anywhere, anytime.

The organizational setup of AFRDIS comprises of three levels with BAR at the helm acting as the national reference center followed by the nodal centers and the R&D institutions within the cluster area of a nodal center.