The Impact of Communication Networks or SEA WIC (The Southeast Asian Weed Information Center) on Community Development in Indonesia

摘要

Weeds as one component of pest in broad term has its recognition as old as the second stage of civilization when men shifted their activities from food gathering and into the food cultivation. The issue of weeds for agricultural development is important, as the population of Indonesia is projected to he 258.2 million, thus, the need for food will dramatically increase. Weed management and utilization of weeds, especially the aquatic weeds, for handicrafts materials, animal feed, mushroom culture, fertilizer etc. are touched upon. The importance of information on weed for the weed management had urged SEAMED Regional Center for Tropical Biology (B1OTROP) to establish the Southeast Asian Weed Information Center (SEAWIC) for the benefit of the weed scientists, policy makers, as well as for students and general community in the region, through the services offered. The role of information in this context for the decision-makers, as well as for students and general community, especially for the community development is presented. The remarkable potential of information Communication Technology (ICT), to communicate, store and manipulate information is emphasized.