Evaluation of ICT Policy for the Agriculture and Rural Development in Developed Countries: A Comprehensive Lesson for Developing Countries

Information and Communication Technology is now widely accepted by developing countries as a development tool in their efforts to alleviate poverty, enhance human development, and achieve Millennium Development Goals. Recognizing this untapped potential and development strategies incorporating ICT are being increasingly promoted and launched across the developing countries requiring a comprehensive ICT policy that plays a crucial rule, in particular, in the area of agriculture and rural development. While the potential advantages of ICT for development are enormous in developed countries, national policies of developing countries are yet to adequately reflect truly comprehensive and integrated strategies for harnessing and exploiting this potential. This paper tries to provide implication of ICT policy to the agriculture and rural development in developing countries, in particular through lessons learned from European Union (EU) IT policy. Through the examination of vital projects in the agriculture and rural development sectors and case study analysis of applied policies and strategies implemented in the European Union, this paper provides tangible examples and lessons for policy-makers and practitioners involved in the field. Hence, this study provides policy-makers the necessary tools, information and knowledge to facilitate the formulation and adoption of ICT policies and strategies in the agriculture and rural development sector.