Information Technology in family agriculture: Spreadsheets for the management of inputs

Authors

  • Elaine Parra Affonso Universidade Estadual Paulista – Unesp/Marília
  • Cristina Toyoko Hashimoto Universidade Estadual Paulista – Unesp/Marília
  • Ricardo César Gonçalves Sant'Ana Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp - Marília/SP

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/biblios.2015.221

Keywords:

Family agriculture, Information Technology, Spreadsheets, Extension Projects, Community informatics

Abstract

Objective. To demonstrate how Information Technology through electronic spreadsheets may improve the administration of rural activities on farms, specifically within the context of family agriculture. Method. The literature on the use of Information Technology within the context of family agriculture was reviewed. Using the theoretical referential proposed by Community Informatics, the activities undertaken by the Digital Skills for Family Agriculture - CoDAF project were analyzed, especially the spreadsheet “Input Stock Control”, prepared on the information obtained from the interaction with rural producers. Their needs with regard to farm administration were consequently focused. Results. The spreadsheet “Input Stock Control” is consequently described and Information Technology´s contribution how it minimizes waste within the context of stock control is shown, coupled to lowering of costs and increase in the efficaciousness of the process. Conclusions. Although the farmer may have several impediments to access more advanced technologies and specific softwares, the use of the spreadsheet is a feasible choice due to its availability, mainly in open source versions, especially for family agriculture, and thus contributing towards the reduction of informational asymmetry.

Author Biographies

Elaine Parra Affonso, Universidade Estadual Paulista – Unesp/Marília

Doutoranda no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência da Informação – UNESP/Marília – SP. Professora na Faculdade de Tecnologia de Presidente Prudente – Fatec - SP. Departamento de Análise e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas.

Cristina Toyoko Hashimoto, Universidade Estadual Paulista – Unesp/Marília

Mestranda no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência da Informação – UNESP/Marília – SP. Graduada em Administração na UNESP/Tupã.

Ricardo César Gonçalves Sant'Ana, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp - Marília/SP

Professor Doutor no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência da Informação – UNESP/Marília – SP. Professor Doutor na Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP/Tupã – SP. Doutor em Ciência da Informação – UNESP/Marília – SP.

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Published

2015-11-24

How to Cite

Affonso, E. P., Hashimoto, C. T., & Sant’Ana, R. C. G. (2015). Information Technology in family agriculture: Spreadsheets for the management of inputs. Biblios Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, (60), 45–54. https://doi.org/10.5195/biblios.2015.221

Issue

No. 60 (2015)

Section

Review

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