Knowledge Sharing and Distance Learning for Sustainable Agriculture in the Asia Pacific: The Asia-Pacific Regional Technology Centre

Paper presented at the 1st SEAMEO Education Congress (SEC), "Challenges in the new millennium", 26-29 March 2001, Bangkok, Thailand

W. Wyn Ellis, Robert T. Raab, Buenafe R. Abdon

Abstract

Faced with a shrinking natural resource base but an ever increasing demand for food and fibre, Asian agriculture is under pressure to raise production levels. Farmers are being called upon to raise production to meet food security needs and compete in the global marketplace while preserving the environment and the livelihoods of generations to come. Modern technology options are available to help today’s farmers address this dilemma but the gap between verified scientific research and actual farm practice is vast. Access to knowledge is the key to bridging the farm technology gap and getting this knowledge to farmers requires skilled agricultural professionals in all concerned sectors - government, non-government, development, academic and the private sector.

Moreover, collaborative efforts involving all these sectors will have more impact than individual efforts. This paper outlines the challenges and presents the activities and aims of a recently established organization - the Asia Pacific Regional Technology Centre <www.aprtc.org>. The APRTC provides specialist agricultural education and training services via distance learning and practical field training, drawing on the strengths of key sectors to fill the need for ongoing professional development for agricultural professionals and the dissemination of essential agricultural knowledge to farmers across Asia.