Digital Divide and
Pakistan Agriculture sector
Digital Divide Basics
There has always been a gap between those people and
communities who can make effective use of information
technology and those who cannot. Now, more than ever, unequal
adoption of technology excludes many from reaping the fruits
of the economy.
The term "digital divide" to refer to this gap between those
who can effectively use new information and communication
tools, such as the Internet, and those who cannot. While a
consensus does not exist on the extent of the divide (and
whether the divide is growing or narrowing), researchers are
nearly unanimous in acknowledging that some sort of divide
exists at this point in time.
In countries like Pakistan where citizens still struggle for
reliable sources of food,
water, medical care and educational
opportunity, bridging the digital divide may seem like a lofty
goal indeed. Information and communication technologies will
never be a magic bullet that eliminates the need for sound
developmental investments, but they can serve as a crucial
factor, enabling NGOs, governments and individual citizens to
improve the quality of life at home and abroad.
what is the digital divide?
Simply put, "the digital divide" means that between countries
and between different groups of people within countries, there
is a wide division between those who have real access to
information and communications technology and are using it
effectively, and those who don't.
Since information and communications technologies (ICTs) are
increasingly becoming a foundation of our societies and
economies, the digital divide means that the "information
have-nots" are denied the option to participate in new ICT
jobs, in e-government, in ICTs improved healthcare, and in ICT
enhanced education.
More often than not, the "information have-nots" are in
developing countries, and in disadvantaged groups within
countries. To some, the digital divide is thus a lost
opportunity -- the opportunity for the information "have-nots"
to use ICTs to improve their lives.
This special report explains the dynamics of digital divide
and Efforts to bridge it in different parts of the world.. the
relevance to Pakistan and specially Agriculture sector.
A different digital divide in agricultural e-commerce?
Whether individual agricultural producers will
have full access to e-commerce technology is a question of
technology development and control, not one of access to
computers and the Internet.
IT Revolution & the Digital Divide in
Pakistan
The information revolution makes it possible for all to industrialize
and develop quickly. With Governments providing
a thrust without trying to control, the deprived sections of
the society can also become part of this economic activity.
Developing e-villages ?
The Internet facility is spreading
in Pakistan’s rural areas in a significant way as 432 cities
and towns have been equipped with this facility instead of 39
within just eight months and the target for the current year
is to equip almost 700 city and towns.
Connecting with the Unconnected
This framework for evaluating the
impacts of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with Internet
connectivity on rural communities represents an attempt to
address the shortcomings of previous ICT evaluations.
International Efforts
In countries where citizens still struggle for reliable
sources of food, water, medical care and educational
opportunity, bridging the digital divide may seem like a lofty
goal indeed.
Low-Cost Computers for the People
From a communications-saturated vantage point here in North
America, sometimes it's easy to forget that the majority of
the world's population has never made a telephone call, let
alone used the Internet. In many developing countries, the
very cost of a computer can amount to more than the average
worker's annual salary.
Universities playing critical role in Breaking Down Digital Divide with Innovative Programs
Washington State University is helping rural and low-income
state residents bridge the digital divide with a number of
innovative programs run by WSU extension offices, Bill Gillis,
director for the WSU Center to Bridge the Digital Divide, said
Wednesday.
WRI Conference Explores New Businesses to Transform Global Digital Divide into Dividends
Spanning the Digital Divide: Understanding and Tackling the IssuesOn the Ground Initiatives in the Developing World
High - Tech Harvest
The days of farmers sitting around
the country store swapping yarns and seat-of-the-pants
predictions for the growing season are long gone. Oh, the
farmers still talk and spin yarns, but mostly through e-mail
and Internet chat sessions.
Global Information Infrastructure:
The Rural Challenge
In 1984, the
International Telecommunication Union's Maitland Commission
noted that telecommunications was a "missing link" in much of
the developing world. A decade later, policy makers were
calling for a "global information infrastructure" that would
link everyone into a worldwide network, or more likely,
network of networks.
International seminar on digital divide
ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Minister for Science and Technology
Attaur Rehman on Thursday inaugurated an international seminar
on digital divide here at COMSTECH secretariat.
Delegates from different OIC member countries participated in
the seminar to deliberate upon ways and means to promote
mutual cooperation in the scientific field of digital divide.
Jafar Milimonfared, who is Deputy of Iranian Science and
Technology Ministry, headed the delegates from Iran during the
digital divide seminar.
Source
Links
1.
Digital Divide Network
2. Bridges
3. Digital Dividend
4. Epoor
5.
UNDP Pakistan
