A Web-Based Platform for Crop-Specific Data Management and Exchange of Farmers' Experiences

Abstract

In this chapter, the research theme is focused on the relationship between small farmers and information and communication technologies (ICT). Although there are other previous works that have already analyzed this same relationship, the authors believe that access to information remains a major challenge for farmers. With the application of workshops on agricultural practices of maize, in communities of Oaxaca and Veracruz, they learned about the practices of farmers around the production cycle and applied a survey to find out their opinion regarding the use of ICT. In addition, they used a specialized database to complement the workshops objectives. Next, in collaboration between researchers in the areas of biology and computing, they developed a web platform for access and use of information related to the variables of interest to farmers. Among the main results, they highlight that the community prefers to use cell phones to access such information and that the older generations are looking to transmit experiences and knowledge to the young with the aim of conserving ancestral knowledge.