The Ghana Agricultural Information Network System (GAINS) was established as
a component of the erstwhile Government of Ghana/World Bank supported
National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) in 1991 to revitalise the library and
information system in the agricultural sector of the economy.
The rationale was to make information more accessible to research scientists,
policy makers, extension agents, etc. to support sustainable agricultural
development.
Under the AgSSIP, GAINS is being strengthened to provide the necessary
information support for research activities. It is expected that at the end of the
first three years (2002-2004), the following would have been achieved:
• GAINS Coordinating Centre linked to all the 18 participating research institutes
(PRIs) electronically
• Scientists accessing GAINS increased by 50%
• Research proposals reflect adequate literature reviews
• Proper library statistics maintained
GAINS links the libraries of all the agricultural research institutes under
the CSIR and the Faculties of Agriculture libraries of the government funded
Universities, the library of Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research
Institute (BNARI), the library of the Institute of Industrial Research, the
library of the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute, and the library
and information resource centre of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
The mandate of the network is to strengthen the information infrastructure to
support agricultural research and development in Ghana.
To be a national agricultural information resources and coordinating centre
of excellence in providing agricultural information to support agricultural
research and development using appropriate information and communication technologies
(ICTs) in Ghana.
To coordinate the identification, collection, processing and dissemination of all
agricultural information produced in Ghana and elsewhere,
in whatever form, to support agricultural research and sustainable
development to ensure food security in the country.
GAINS has a Coordinating Centre, based at the Institute for Scientific
and Technological Information (INSTI) in Accra.
The Coordinating Centre acts as the referral centre for information
requests on agriculture and allied disciplines and coordinates activities of eighteen
(18) libraries and information centres of agriculture-related research institutes
and faculties of agriculture of the universities in Ghana with the objective of providing
effective and efficient information delivery services to users.
The basis for networking is based on the principle of
collaboration and cooperation that emphasizes effective
participation by the nodal points rather than a rigidly hierarchical one.
Management
GAINS is managed by a nine-member Board with representations
from MOFA, Research institutes and the Universities. The Deputy Director-General
(Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sector) of the CSIR is the Chairman of
the Board with the Coordinator of GAINS as Member/Secretary. The Board meets
at least thrice a year and exercises supervisory role and advises on matters
of policy to guide the operational activities of the network. There is a committee
of participating libraries that meet on quarterly basis to discuss strategies
for implementing the network activities. The GAINS Coordinator who is also
responsible for handling the day-to-day activities of the programme chairs
this committee.
Objectives
The goal of GAINS is to establish a coordinated network system
that seeks to collect, process, share and repackage for dissemination, agricultural
information generated in Ghana or elsewhere in any format to support agricultural
research and development in the country. The specific objectives include:
| 1. |
Capacity building at both the Coordinating Centre and
the nodal points to ensure effective networking. |
| 2. |
Establishing an effective system for collection development of relevant
literature.
|
| 3. |
Creating and maintaining computerized databases of indigenous literature
on agriculture and related disciplines, experts in the field of agriculture,
Union List of Serial holdings, etc. |
| 4. |
Providing tailor-made selective dissemination of information and current
awareness services to research scientists, policy makers, extension
officers, etc. |
| 5. |
Establishing appropriate mechanisms for document delivery and inter-library
lending service among the participating libraries of the network. |
