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CAIS Summary Draft Project Proposal Comments

Introduction:
Accepted.

Beneficiaries
Accepted

The working group agreed that the problems identified were all applicable to the BVI’s situation. Specifically, members reinforced the necessity for a User Needs Survey in the BVI since one was not done previously. Some of the specific areas which were identified included:

Goal
Accepted.

Objectives
Accepted.

Results
Accepted.

The next category which generated extensive discussion were the Assumptions. It was noted that in the BVI, agriculture is not an immediate priority and felt that the first two assumptions -tangible support at the national level and cooperation among institutions - would be critical in order to ensure the success of a CAIS Network in the BVI. The other three assumptions are not major problems for the BVI.

Members shared information on the existence of NIDS (the National Integrated Development Strategy) which is an integrated group formed locally to reduced duplication. We felt that this group can perhaps form the core of a national network and any CAIS Network. Hence a small interim committee of users present was formed to talk with NIDS and lobby.

The basic structure as proposed was accepted and a number of institutions identified which could be national hubs and thus part of the national network:

The list of potential members suggested for the British Virgin Islands (BVI) was: -

It was agreed that the list was not exhaustive but the committee will begin with this group and later invite other relevant groups as necessary.

Responsibilities of National Hubs
Accepted.

From this list, three were selected as the possible National Focal Point: Department of Agriculture, CARDI, and Department of Information. It was felt however that the Department of Agriculture should be selected as the NFP, since the NFP should be strategically placed.

Responsibilities of the Regional Information Centre
Accepted.

The next major category of discussion was the Joint Activities. These are also all applicable for the BVI situation. We noted however the specific need for strategic marketing.

National Agricultural Information Networks

In terms of the administrative mechanism for defraying costs, it was suggested that the BVI Government should fund the information system in the initial stages and this can be supplemented by membership fees and user fees for non-members, also by the sale of information products via the Internet.

Other concerns, issues, and suggestions
Recorded in other sections.

General Recommendations
Recorded in other sections.

BVI formed themselves into a working group to follow-up with other members of the agricultural community. They however, did not participate in the Agricultural Information Needs Survey and therefore were not interested in such a project.

Having also agreed with the other sections of the proposal, the group formulated an ACTION PLAN for follow-up by the BVI members of this group after this consultation, to be executed by both BVI and CARDI:-

CARDI has agreed to send to BVI a copy of the User Needs Survey, the questionnaire, and the brochure when it is available.

1. The group have agreed to do a preliminary Information Inventory
2. The group will meet during the week of 12 July, 1998 in order to finalise the Action Plan so that we may have something concrete for the September meeting.

Contact Person:

Ms. Bernadette Kelly, Agricultural Officer was nominated by the Permanent Secretary to be Liaison person for the BVI Ministry.

C. de Freitas
IRM (Ag.)
July 1998

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