WEBAGRIS ANNOUNCEMENT

SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS International Conference for Digital Libraries and the Semantic Web(ICSD2009) September 8-11, 2009 - University of Trento, Trento (ITALY)*****************************************************************************

Digital libraries, in the central view of the term, focus on storing andorganizing digital objects and providing access to these objects throughprofessional or user-generated metadata or content-based search (full text,image content, full musical score). In an expanded view, DLs also supportannotation, generation or editing of digital objects and provide tools forprocessing digital objects. The semantic Web focuses on the formalrepresentation of data for more precise retrieval and, more importantly, forreasoning so that many often disparate items of data can be combined todirectly answer a user's question or to devise a plan of action. ICDLSWaddresses two main questions:(1) How can digital libraries support Semantic Web functionality?(2) How can Semantic Web technology improve digital libraries?Ultimately the goal is an environment in which all functionality is availableto the user without the perception of different systems or system boundaries.Contributions are sought that address one or both of the main questions orsteps towards the ultimate system. Some example topics are listed below, butthe purpose of this list is just to stimulate thinking. SPECIFIC TOPICS that address one or both of the main questions:* Digital objects that provide formal representation of data ready forreasoning, possibly in addition to text, images, or sound.* Knowledge acquisition: Editing tools that assist subject experts in thecreation of formal representations of data.* Digital objects that interact with the user or software agents.* Standards and specifications for digital objects.* Organization and retrieval of software agents and Semantic Web services.* Semantic search. Use of ontologies and knowledge bases (such as topic maps)to improve search for digital objects.* Question answering from text, from data/knowledge bases, or a combination.* Next generation OPACs.* The structure and creation of ontologies to support these functions.* Using the intellectual capital available in traditional KOS such as DeweyDecimal Classification (DDC), UDC, or MeSH in the construction of ontologiesthat support truly semantic search and reasoning.* Vocabulary and taxonomy development.* Multilingual issues in Digital Libraries.* Semantics of bibliographical databases.* Metadata standards, Interoperability and Crosswalks.* Digital Library and Semantic Web Projects and Case Studies.We invite original papers in English on all relevant topics as mentionedabove. Papers will be reviewed based on originality of work, quality andrelevance to the main theme of the conference. Peer reviewed and acceptedpapers will be published in the conference proceedings. The papers shouldfollow the SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS provided on the conference website.The conference will explore the area of digital libraries and the semanticweb through tutorials, workshops, demonstrations, invited talks andpresentations. The conference will also serve as a working platform forcommunities to discuss and agree on joint work. We also encourage thesubmission of workshop proposals for this purpose.SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE: *Paolo Bouquet, University of Trento (Italy)*Johannes Keizer, FAO of the United Nations (Italy)*Wolfgan Nejdl, University of Hannover (Germany)*ARD Prasad, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore (India) *Heiko Stoermer, University of Trento (Italy)IMPORTANT DATES:April 16, 2009: Submission (Papers, Posters & Workshops)June 24, 2009: Camera-ready copySeptember 8-11, 2009: Conference at the University of TrentoFOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.icsd-conference.org/

BANANA PRODUCTION, POST HARVEST AND MARKETING IN RWANDA

by Mukantwali Christine, Shingiro Jean Bosco, Dusengemungu Leonidas

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A survey aiming at assessing banana production and post harvest status was conducted on 286 farmers and farmers associations in most producing areas of East, West, North and Southern province of Rwanda. Results showed that more than 29 banana varieties are cultivated. The main signs of mature banana ready for harvest were the banana starting to ripen, banana fingers big enough and small male buds. The long sunny season (June-August) was indicated as harvesting period. Each farmer harvests around 30.9 banana bunches per month and that most of the brewing bananas are processed into banana juice and beer. It was noted that banana processing is done traditionally with less cleanliness and that improvement of the technology is highly needed.

Most of the cooking bananas are sold at 21.58 FRW per kilogramme but also there is a certain amount of cooking banana which is consumed. Dessert banana are also either consumed or sold. Farmers encounter constraints of not being able to store mature bananas due to their perishability and this leads to selling banana at a very low price during overproduction period. Only few farmers associations are exporting dessert bananas to Europe and neighboring countries. Banana leaves, stems and peels are used as animal feeds. The majority of the farmers do not have easy access to the market of raw bananas or the processed products such as banana juice or beer. This leads to the use of non processed and non sold bananas as for manure preparation for banana fields.
Although banana is traditionally processed and that there is limited access to the market for raw banana and banana products, banana was considered as a very important crop as it brings cash to the farmers.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Scientists’ team would like to thank the Rwanda Community surveyed for their support and encouragement during data collection. We took quite a lot of their time for which we are grateful. We believe that they will continue with the same zeal as we enter in the next steps of the findings towards this research, so that together we can address the identified constraints for the benefit of the farmers in particular and the rest of the partners in general. Our thanks are also directed to different Sectors administrations for arranging the field visits and for allowing some of their staff to work with us. The support of BARNESA/CIALCA/ISAR Project enabled us to implement the task without financial troubles. On the same note we would like to thank the entire accounting and administrative staff of ISAR for logistical support.

Announcements

ICT4D Internship Opportunity at CTA

Internship Opportunity at CTA: Information and Communication Technologies
for Development (ICT4D)

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), an international organisation based in Wageningen, The Netherlands has an opening for one intern for a period of approximately 6+6 months to work as a member of CTA’s ICT Innovation Team. The CTA ICT Innovation Team has the mandate to monitor ICT innovations and propose these to CTA management and partner organisations for consideration and adoption.

CTA’s mandate puts emphasis on facilitating access, exchange and dissemination of information in the fields of agriculture and rural development. Therefore, optimizing its online presence is of paramount importance. At present the ICT Innovation Team has embarked on a series of related initiatives.

Duties

Under the guidance of the Coordinator of the ICT Innovation Team (the mentor), the Intern will carry out the following activities:

1. Assist in monitoring CTA online presence and the use of its online resources;
2. Assist in managing and / or developing online resources;
3. Contribute to the improvement of CTA’s online visibility and services delivered;
4. Appraise innovative Web 2.0 applications;
5. Moderate existing and new online communities;
6. Perform other tasks as requested by the mentor.
   

Profile

1. University degree in ICT4D-related disciplines;
2. Familiarity with and experience/keen interest in the area of ICTs issues as well as African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries;
3. Maximum 30-year old;
4. Recently graduated;
5. Familiar with African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries;
6. Fluent in written and spoken English or French; and ability to work in the other language.
7. Proficient in information and communication technologies;
8. Good organisation, inter-personal and communication skills;
9. National of either one European Union member state or of one of the 79 ACP (Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific) States.
   

Interested candidates should submit the documents listed below to intern@cta.int and enter the following text in the email subject field: [ict4d internship application]

• Curriculum vitae
• Scanned copy of the university degree(s)
• One-page letter explaining why the candidate considers that he/she is in a position to successfully contribute to project implementation and what he/she expects to gain from the internship. The date of earliest availability should be specified as well.
• Two letters of recommendation and/or references.
  

Deadline for submission:
March 20, 2009


Note: More information on CTA Internship programme is found here .