Ladies and Gentlemen,
   Dear Colleagues,
   
   It  is  a  matter  of great honour for me to represent  here
   today  the  Ukrainian Institute of Scientific-Technical  and
   Economic   Information,  namely  the  department  of   agro-
   industrial   information.  I  would  like  to   express   my
   appreciation to the organizers of the workshop for  inviting
   me to  share our experience.
   
   Agriculture  plays  a very large role in Ukrainian  economy,
   accounting  for about 33% of Ukraine’s net material  product
   and  employing about 20% of workforce. Agriculture and  food
   account  for about 9% of Ukraine's total export  and  6%  of
   total    imports.   So,   in   this   country   agricultural
   infrastructure is extremely developed and, except small  and
   large   enterprises   which   are   direct   producers    of
   agricultural   production,   includes   the   Ministry    of
   Agriculture   and Food of Ukraine and Ukrainian  Academy  of
   Agricultural  Sciences  with  the  networks  of  scientific,
   design  and  educational  institutions  and  enterprises  of
   agricultural  profile  which are  in  need  of  agricultural
   information.
   
   Establishment of Ukraine as an independent state,  including
   the  field  of  information technologies,   means  not  only
   storage,   processing  and  practical   use   of   its   own
   information resources but creation of real possibilities  as
   well  for entering into the world information space by means
   of  exchange of scientific-technical information.  Therefore
   at  present  scientific-technical information has  become  a
   strategic  product without which the technological  advances
   in  agricultural production would be impossible. Scientific-
   technical  information  is extremely  essential  for  proper
   management of agriculture.
   
   In   Ukraine   the  problem  of  using  foreign  scientific-
   technical  information  resources is dramatically  sharpened
   in  connection with rupture of the information  links  after
   the   USSR   breakdown.  Because  of  economic  crisis   and
   inflation  foreign scientific information has become  almost
   unavailable    for   Ukrainian   users,    including    even
   publications  from  ” the close abroad”,  republics  of  the
   former  Soviet Union. For example, in the Central Scientific
   Agricultural   Library  (Kiev)  subscription   for   foreign
   periodical  publications  in  1996  decreased  by   32%   in
   comparison with 1995.
   
   Under   these  circumstances  the  Ukrainian  Institute   of
   Scientific-Tecnical and Economic Information  (UkrINTEI)  in
   accordance  with  the functions of the  National  Centre  of
   Information,  imposed  upon it, for many  years  intensively
   carried  out  search  and  working  out  the  mechanisms  of
   information   interaction,  creation  of  joint  information
   space  for  the  CIS countries, Central and Eastern  Europe,
   development  of economic, legislative, technical  and  other
   mechanisms of information interaction. As a result of  these
   efforts  in  August  1995  UkrINTEI  was  nominated  as  the
   National   AGRIS/CARIS  Centre.  These  functions   in   the
   framework  of the Institute are imposed upon the  department
   of  the agro-industrial information. This subdivision of the
   Institute,  set  up  late  in the  60s,  acts  as  the  unit
   intended  for data-processing and providing with information
   agricultural    authorities,   research   and    educational
   institutions, agricultural enterprises.
   
   I   would  like  to  take  the  opportunity  to  extend  our
   gratitude  to  our Slovak colleagues from the  Institute  of
   Scientific  and  Technical Information for Agriculture  (Mr.
   M.  Demes, Ms. B. Bajankova) who were the first to  acquaint
   us  with  the  advantages of AGRIS  and  carried  out  first
   training course with our specialists as early as in1993.
   
   AGRIS/CARIS  in  Ukraine is not only easier  access  to  the
   worldwide  database  of foreign literature  useful  for  our
   development  but  invaluable opportunity as  well  to  place
   information about advances, problems and studies in  Ukraine
   directly  in  the  world  orbit. In  addition  this  is  the
   opportunity  for  creation  of the  national  database.  The
   specialists  in the National AGRIS/CARIS Centre  in  Ukraine
   aware  and  accept the main principle of this  organisation:
   the  privelege  of using the database implies  the  duty  of
   submitting the national data to it.
   
   By  the  end of 1996 the Ukrainian membership in AGRIS/CARIS
   counts  a  year  and  a half. This time may  be  called  the
   period  of  establishment  of the National  Centre.  Certain
   experince is gained already allowing to enter the  data  but
   a   lot   of   experince  is  to  be  gained.   The   active
   participation of Ukraine in AGRIS/CARIS at the  first  stage
   implies  not  only use of the database and input preparation
   but  a  large volume of preparatory work to be done as well.
   As   all   national  AGRIS/CARIS  centres,  we  were  kindly
   provided  with methodological materials and methodical  help
   on  the  side of the former AGRIS/CARIS Coordinating  Centre
   and  AGRIS Processing Unit (APU). Immediately after  joining
   Ukraine  the  system  a  number of  speedy  actions  by  FAO
   experts  were  undertaken to make the Ukrainian  AGRIS/CARIS
   Centre  operational: the workshop in Kiev  in  October  1995
   carried  out  by  Ms. Helga Schmid and a one  week  training
   course   in  APU  for  UkrINTEI,  as  well  as  the  Central
   Scientific  Agricultural  Library,  representatives  in  May
   1996.  I  would like to take this opportunity to  thank  FAO
   and APU specialists for help in our establishment.
   
   Methodological materials, first of all, ”AGRIS Input  Pack”,
   are  outlined by understandable language and are,  in  fact,
   ”performance aid” for the Centre. But in order  to  organize
   AGRIS/CARIS  activities properly through  involving  various
   institutions  in the process of supplementing  the  database
   UkrINTEI  sees  its  top priority task in  translation  into
   Russian  the  methodological materials, namely ”AGRIS  Input
   Pack”. This will help to overcome language barrier  and  the
   translation  then may be taken up on the vast  territory  of
   the  former  Soviet Union. According to agreement  with  APU
   this  work has already been started. One more starting point
   is  an  investigation of the Ukrainian information resourses
   to  be  entered in AGRIS in order to provide the full  scope
   of  all  important branches of agriculture. As the Ukrainian
   Centre  is  relatively young, the experience of  functioning
   the  various national AGRIS/CARIS centers all over the world
   is the matter of great interest for us.
   
   As  the  next  step the spheres of information interests  of
   six  Ukrainian institutions are determined. Among them,  the
   UkrINTEI  (  with  the  network of the regional  information
   centres  /RIC/), Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Ukraine
   (with    the    network   of   research   and    educational
   institutions),  Ukrainian Academy of  Agricultural  Sciences
   (with  the  network of research institutes and  experimental
   stations),  Central  Scientific Agricultural  Library  (with
   the  network  of  regional  agricultural  libraries),  State
   University  of Food Technologies, Ministry of Statistics  of
   Ukraine  and Ministry of Chernobyl. In the cooperation  with
   these   institutions  we  are  supposed  to  use  the   main
   AGRIS/CARIS  principle: providing them with  information  in
   exchange  of  mandatory  submission  of  inputs.   We   have
   achieved agreement with these institutions to prepare  joint
   Ukrainian input with the Center acting as coordinator.
   
   The    potential   AGRIS/CARIS   participants   (users   and
   contributors)  on  the side of Ukraine  may  be  defined  as
   follows.
   
   The   Ukrainian   Institute   of  Scientific-Technical   and
   Economic   Information  is  not  ocasionally  nominated   as
   National  AGRIS/CARIS Centre. Namely here narrow specialized
   funds  of  scientific information are formed. The  Institute
   is  a  All-Ukrainian  depository  of  patents  and  author’s
   certificates.  The  reports  of  research  and   educational
   institutions, including the institutions of natural  history
   profile,  from  all over Ukraine are registered  and  stored
   here.  Publications  of information structures,  proceedings
   of  international  conferences on information  problems  are
   issued  by  the Institute. Inputting the literature  of  the
   kind  will  contribute  to  non-conventional  literature  of
   AGRIS  which  is  known to be a strong  side  of  AGRIS.  In
   UkrINTEI    ”Naturalis”,   the   journal   on    alternative
   agriculture,  founded together with the  Slovak  colleagues,
   is  issued.  On the basis of these documents the counterflow
   of  information  only of the Ukrainian origin  intended  for
   AGRIS  may  be  formed.  Part  of  these  materials,  namely
   patents,  author’s certificates, reports and several  issues
   of  ”Naturalis”  have already been entered  into  AGRIS  and
   users may find them in the system. For transmitting data  to
   APU  up-to-date means of telecommunication, I  mean  e-mail,
   are   used.1996  is  a  year  of  10th  anniversary  of  the
   Chernobyl  catastrophe. Our future plans are connected  with
   entering  the  large  massif of unique  information  on  the
   Chernobyl  accident.  Some  materials  are  represented   in
   ”Naturalis”.  With the aim of entering into  the  data  base
   the   Institute  of  Agricultural  Radiology   has   already
   submitted  to  the  Centre  a new collection  of  scientific
   papers  in which the influence of some consequences  of  the
   catastrophe on agricultural production are generalized.
   
   In  order  to create local problem-oriented data bases  buit
   up  from  foreign information RIC of UkrINTEI  are  supposed
   to  be  involved in this work. Their activities are oriented
   at  regional  problems  and  AGRIS/CARIS  users  working  in
   agricultural  enteprises and institutions in  the  districts
   and  regions  of Ukraine. The work has been started  on  the
   agreement  directions and scope of work  with  RIC,  use  of
   AGRIS/CARIS   information  in  preparation  of   information
   materials for local agricultural authorities.
   
   The  Ministry  of  Agriculture and Food of Ukraine  has  met
   appearance  of  AGRIS/CARIS in Ukraine with great  interest.
   At  present this body is the main official user of the AGRIS
   database.  The agreement is achieved with the  Ministry  for
   providing  them with information on wide scope  of  problems
   represented  in AGRIS in exchange of the input.  Specialists
   of  the  Ministry  intend to enter  into  AGRIS  reports  on
   scientific   research  carried  out  by   the   institutions
   subjected to the Ministry.  At present a training course  on
   input   preparation  is  being  carried   out   with   their
   representatives.
   
   
   Large  enough  volume of work is accounted for  the  Central
   Scientific   Agricultural  Library   as   their   niche   in
   submitting  inputs  to  AGRIS is  the  Ukrainian  periodical
   publications,  books  and  other   information   output   on
   agriculture  of  ”Urozhai”, ”Naukova Dumka”  and  ”Tekhnika”
   publishing   houses.  The  Centre  carries   out   on-demand
   literature   searches  for  the  Library.  The   Agriculural
   Library  and  Central Scientific Library of the  Academy  of
   Sciences of Ukraine as well may be used as the places  where
   AGRIS/CARIS  may  be advertised and where  presentations  of
   the  database may be arranged as they are attended by  large
   number  of  scientists, lecturers, students and specialists.
   We   are  planning  to  prepare  bibliographies  on  special
   subjects  and  supply with them the network of  agricultural
   libraries.  The  Centre gives particular  attention  to  the
   cooperation  with  libraries  in  dissemination   of   AGRIS
   information.
   
   The  work with the institutions of the Ukrainian Academy  of
   Agricultural Sciences has been started by the Institute  for
   Agricultural  Economics.  The  counterflow  of   information
   which  is  to  be  formed by the Institute will  consist  of
   scientific   reports   of  the  institutions   forming   the
   Ukrainian Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
   
   According   to  the  agreement  with  the  Ukrainian   State
   University of Food Technologies their involvement  in  AGRIS
   will  be  connected with use and submitting the  information
   on    postharvest   processing,   storage,   packaging   and
   realization of agricultural production, new technologies  in
   food  industry, new ecologically safe food products et  cet.
   A  training  course on input preparation is already  carried
   out  and the collection of scientific papers of 32 articles,
   entitled  ”Food  Industry”, has already  supplemented  AGRIS
   database.
   
   Every  time  the  advantages of being a  member  country  of
   AGRIS revealed themselves. Despite the fact that Ukraine  is
   not  the  member country of FAO, the Institute has  received
   the   set   of   FAOSTAT  diskettes  containing  statistical
   information.  Information on magnetic carriers is  available
   much  more  speedier  than on paper ones.  This  information
   well  meets  the  needs  of the Ministry  of  Statistics  of
   Ukraine and will supplement the statistical data already  in
   use.
   
   The  Ministry of Chernobyl has not yet engaged in the  work.
   So,   considerable  possibilities  of  AGRIS   for   solving
   ecological problems remain unutilized. The Ministry  in  its
   turn  could submit to AGRIS a unique information accumulated
   for a 10 year period of the Chernobyl catastrophe.
   
   Several  more  large  potential users  and  contributors  to
   AGRIS  may  be included to this list. They are the  Forestry
   Ministry  of Ukraine, Fisheries and Fisheries Management  of
   Ukraine,  Ministry  of  Water Resources  and  Management  of
   Ukraine    (with   the   networks   of   institutions    and
   enterprises),  to  say  nothing of certain  natural  history
   institutions subjected to the National Academy of  Sciences,
   which should be involved into cooperation.
   
   As  you  can  see, Ukraine is a vast field for dissemination
   of    AGRIS   information   and   despite   the   economical
   difficulties  the  agricultural  information  potential   of
   Ukraine  is  very  large. Our task is to  organise  properly
   using   the  entering  flow  of  information  as   well   as
   processing of the counterflow of information, to  direct  it
   to  Vienna.  Something  is  already  done  by  the  National
   AGRIS/CARIS   Centre, more is possible to do but  gradually.
   Realities  do  not allow for realization of all  objectives.
   Unfortunately   at  present  we  are  still   unsufficiently
   staffed,  equipped and financially supported to fulfill  all
   the scope of necessary work.
   
   At  present  it is too early to discuss effect of  AGRIS  on
   the  Ukrainian  agriculture  as  a  whole.  But  its  future
   positive  influence is undoubtful. We have  great  hopes  in
   connection  with  AGRIS appearance in  Ukraine  and  believe
   that  the  very fact of participation in this world  network
   will help us to overcome our problems.


AGRIS FAO in Ukraine/ Deribon T. // Proceedings of ....
   
The  the  report  deals  with the role of  scientific-technical
information  in proper management of agriculture. Prerequisites
for  joining Ukraine the worldwide network AGRIS/CARIS FAO  and
setting up National AGRIS/CARIS Centre in Ukraine the functions
of  which are imposed on the Ukrainian Institute of Scientific-
Technical and Economic Information are considered. Role of  FAO
(former  AGRIS/CARIS Coordination Centre and  AGRIS  Processing
Unit)  in  establishment  of the Centre  is  pointed  out.  Top
priority tasks and other activities of the National AGRIS/CARIS
Centre  directed  at  dissemination of  AGRIS  information  and
organisation  of  the  joint  Ukrainian  input  to  AGRIS   are
described.  The  possibilities of  potential  AGRIS  users  and
contributors in Ukraine are defined.