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

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

Elaine Parra Affonso, Cristina Toyoko Hashimoto, Ricardo César Gonçalves Sant'Ana

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.

2015

Agricultura Familiar, Informática Comunitária, Planilhas, Projetos de Extensão, tecnologia da informação

10.5195/biblios.2015.221

Biblios

University Library System, University of Pittsburgh

Bibliography. Library science. Information resources