Year of publication 1997

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Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

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Pages 72

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Author André G. Coche and Jean Collins;Fishery and Aquaculture Economics and Policy Division

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Product type Book (series)

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Category Technical study

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Series title CIFAA Occasional Paper (Committee of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture for Africa)

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Series number 1014-2452 - CIFA/OP22

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Edition 1

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Synopsis (short abstract) This is the report of a mission fielded in October 1996 to visit successively existing libraries in Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Nigeria, previously identified as potential contributors to an information network on aquatic farming system. Available resources (infrastructure, trained staff, equipment, collections and networking activities) were identified and evaluated. Interest and willingness to participate in the network were ascertained. Main findings wer e the following: There is a continuing loss of institutional memory. Differences between individual libraries are substantial. Libraries in Eastern and Southern Africa have significantly better resources. Even if relatively disadvantaged from resources point of view, francophone Western and Sahelian African libraries undertake several important information and documentation activities. The barrier separating francophone and anglophone sub-regions results not only from linguistic pr oblems, but also from the distribution pattern of information resources. The lack of access to the results and findings of research between the different African sub-regions and between the anglophone and francophone countries is a major obstacle to development. Major constraints on access to information in sub-Saharan Africa include: relatively recent development of aquaculture and aquatic farming systems in the region, lack of information flow between institutions, publication of researc h results mostly as grey literature and absence of collection/dissemination of these results by readily available information systems. In conclusion, the mission recommended: To establish a regional network between institutions with programmes and information resources relevant to aquatic farming systems. To ensure that the approach to information be as multidisciplinary as necessary to address the production system as a whole. To build this network of existing, geographically separat ed but closely linked, anglophone and francophone information centres. To have the network initially composed of the libraries at two coordinating centres, one in each linguistic sub-region (Côte d’Ivoire, IDESSA and Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture) and eight satellite centres. Main objectives and guiding principles for operation of this network are defined. To provide technical and financial assistance to initially strengthen the francophone coordination centre and to initiate region al networking activities, as outlined in a project proposal.

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Statutory body / Meeting title Committee for Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture of Africa (CIFAA)

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