Do ICTs Boost Agricultural Productivity?

Based on panel data from the Rural Fixed Point Survey of the Ministry of Agriculture over the period 2004-2016 and supplementary survey data on information and communications technology(ICT)applications in the countryside,this paper employs the difference in differences(DID)method to analyze the effects of ICT applications on rural households’agricultural total factor productivity(TFP)with mobile phone signal,internet and 3G mobile network connections as indicators,and decomposes and evaluates the constituent factors.Our findings reveal a positive effect of ICTs on rural households’TFP,which primarily stemmed from rising agricultural technical efficiency.However,ICTs exerted no significant effect on agricultural technical progress during this paper’s data period due to limited rural human capital.These findings are consistent with robustness test results based on counterfactual and matching methods.

Information &Communication Technology(ICT) Adoption in Nigerian Ports Terminal Operations

Most ports around the globe have adopted ICT in a bid to improve their operational performance and remain competitive in the industry. However, ports in developing economies still grapple with challenges associated with manual terminal operation. This paper evaluated the level of application and integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and factors limiting their use in terminal operations in Nigerian seaports. The data for the study were obtained from copies of structured Likert scaled questionnaire administered to a random sample of terminal operators, stevedores, shipping companies’ agents, Customs licensed Clearing and Forwarding agents (C&F) operating in Apapa and Tincan Island ports in Nigeria. Specifically, opinion of these respondents was sought on extent of ICT application, integration and perceived constraints to ICT use in port terminal operations. Based on our findings using statistical model tests of proportion, the respondents stated that significant level of ICT procedures and processes have been adopted in port terminal operations. In terms of ICT applications, we found that electronic data and communication exchange applications were available in the terminals for use by the respondents. There are also in place ICT applications for warehouses and storage facilities management and e-payment systems. However, significant constraining factors were found to be: low ICT investment budgetary allocation, lack of e-skilled manpower and poor equipment maintenance culture. Other limiting factors were lack of integrated ICT facilities operated by other port stakeholders and absence of Port Community Systems network (PCS) linking all other relevant interests connected to terminal operations. Policy implications of our findings were discussed.

Role of Telemedicine and Mobile Health in Management Covid-19 Pandemic

Background: Digital health similar Telemedicine and Mobile Health interventions are globally playing a significant roleto combat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndromecoronavirus19. Here, we present a very brief overview of the multifaceted digital interventions, globally, and in India, formaintaining health and health-care delivery, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: This review was conducted throughsearching four databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct. Inclusion criteria included studies clearlydefining any use of telehealth (Telemedicine and Mobile Health) services in all aspects of health care during COVID-19 outbreak.Results: 111 research studies published from 2019 to May 2020 were employed to provide theoretical and practical evidence on thesignificance of using telemedicine and mobile health for remote treatment of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also checkedthe effects for identify the role of telehealth services in preventing, diagnosing, treating, and controlling diseases during COVID-19outbreak, result showed used Telemedicine and Mobile Health effective outcome in the prevention and emergency treatment of otherpatients. Discussion: Major technologies identified included telemedicine and mobile care (for COVID-19 as well as routine care),for monitoring. Telehealth can become a basic need for the general population, health care providers, and patients with COVID-19,especially when people are in quarantine, enabling patients in real time through contact with health care provider for advice on theirhealth problems. Conclusions: The use of telehealth improves the provision of health services. Therefore, telehealth should be animportant tool in caring services while keeping patients and health providers safe during COVID-19 outbreak and reduces the use ofresources in health centers, improves access to care, while minimizing the risk of direct transmission of the infectious agent fromperson to person.

Promoting agricultural and rural modernization through application of information and communication technologies in China

China has obtained remarkable major achievements of agricultural and rural development in the past five years,such as advance in agricultural supply-side structural reform,breakthroughs in rural reform,headway in urban-rural integration development,improvement in rural public services and social undertakings,progress in poverty alleviation,a new level in agricultural trade.Specifically speaking,China is witnessing the following development in Information and Communication Technology(ICT)application in rural areas:Internet infrastructure is strengthened;E-commerce in rural areas is thriving;rural information service is upgraded;A solid progress has been made in Agricultural Internet of Things and rapid deployment of big-data technology.This paper summarizes the experiences gained in the development of agricultural and rural informatization in China.Based on this review,some suggestions were presented:Firstly,improving policy systems through innovation;secondly,strengthening ICT infrastructure;thirdly,giving full play to the primary role of market;fourthly,carrying out pilot demonstration and trainings.At the same time,the problems faced by rural e-commerce development were also pointed out.