NARS-ICT Status ReportSultanate of Oman

May, 2009

His Majesty’s speech – ICT Highlight 11 Nov 2008

Information technology and communications have now become the main elements that move forward the development process in this third millennium; therefore, we have accorded our attention to finding a national citizens in this domain with the aim of further developing e-government services.

We are closely following the important steps that we have made in this regard. We call upon all government institutions to speedily enhance their performance, and to facilitate their services, by applying digital technology in order to usher the Sultanate into the constantly evolving spheres for applying knowledge.

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 around 100000 employees.employees.- The Community IT Training Project 

use of 25 Community Knowledge Centers 25 Community Knowledge Centers that will be established in all the governorates

and various regions of the Sultanate.

- eOman Awarenessorganizing seminars, conferences and road shows throughout the country

TRA- Oman

• Oman Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA): www.tra.gov.om

Telecom Service Providers in Oman

OmantelOman Mobile

Nawras

Agriculture Information System

Agricultural Information System in Agricultural Information System in

• National Agriculture Research National Agriculture Research Station(NARS), represented by the Station(NARS), represented by the Directorate General of Agricultural and Directorate General of Agricultural and Livestock ResearchLivestock Research

• Ministry of Agriculture (MOA)Ministry of Agriculture (MOA)

• Sultan Qaboos University (SQU)Sultan Qaboos University (SQU)

Agriculture in Oman

Cultivated Area & Production

Crop 2006 2007 2008

  Production (1000 ton.)

Area (1000

Fadden)

Production (1000 ton.)

Area (1000

Fadden)

Production (1000 ton.)

Area

)1000 Fadden(

Veg. crops 108.05 11.19 130.36 12.26 141.07 14.16

Fruit crops 313 87.88 311.77 88.26 319.71 93.25

Field crops 25.2 18.19 25.18 16.95 24.57 16.28

Fodder crops

564.3 34.21 608.74 36.51 662.50 40.22

Total 1010.55 151.47 1076.05 153.98 1147.85 163.91

(NARS)

Agriculture & livestock Research

Agricultural & Livestock Research

PLANT PRODUCTION RESEARCH CENTER

PLANT PROTECTION RESEARCH CENTER

SOIL & WATER RESEARCH CENTER

DATE PALM RESEARCH CENTER

LIVESTOCK RESEARCH CENTER

VETERNIARY RESEARCH CENTER

Research Capacity in NARS

Omani MCs2 Omani MCs Omani PhD2 Expert PhD Omani PhD

1810

9

12 14

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

6

111

10

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

ServersClientsLaptops

76

51

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

P4 & HigherP3 & Lower

234

82

35

10

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

VistaWin2k3Win2kWin XPWin 98Novell

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

Internal Server

• Moderate ICT strategies and policies

• Inconsistency in collected data and information analysis mechanisms

• Moderate ICT managerial and technical skills

Limitations

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.

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

Sultan Qaboos UniversitySultan 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

Electronic Resources Rises in Electronic Resources Rises in SQU Library SQU Library

2003 2008

Databases21 27

Electronic full text journal1 14

Titles250 13,000

Book holdings173,009 300,000

Audio-visual items12,605 14,500

• 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

Conclusion: Requirements and Suggested improvements

The End