Focus on Agricultural Information Transfer

The study makes a quick survey of the major agricultural information systems and services existing in the world. Examines the objectives of three major systems AGRIS, CAB and NAL operating at the international level. Points out that they should avoid duplication of efforts and step into the days of cooperation so that the world will get a reliable improved agricultural information system. Analyses the changes taking place in scientific information transfer with stress to databases and abstracting services in agriculture. Observes that primary publishers in agricultural sciences are beginning to realize that abstracts in addition to their utility in transferring information related to content of primary journals; are also saleable commodity and that the original publishers should themselves take advantage of this business instead of allowing others to benefit from their efforts. Also observes the increased use digital technology by publishers and information systems. Developments in digital storage, publishing and transmission technology is analyzed and predicts that with the availability of low cost high capacity digital recording media, by the end of the century most of the specialized journals in agriculture will change to electronic form and that all secondary information services in the sector will be based on electronic databases. The study opines that these changes will also force the publishers and information service providers to ensure quality of services.