NPR - HAS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FAILED TO DELIVER? (FOR NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURE)

Abstract:
New Zealand has lead the world in pastoral agriculture for several decades. Its ability to innovate on-farm combined with the application of directed research and science produces products of the highest quality at a good return for the land owner. Technology in the form of computer software applications has been available to New Zealand farmers since the eighties, yet there are few examples where those applications have been fully embraced by the majority. The adoption curve lags other technologies such as artificial insemination, automation, rotational grazing, to name a few. Has information technology failed to deliver on farm? In many cases the answer is affirmative, the potential that exists in utilisation of many excellent software based systems has not occurred. There are certain principles specific to the rural market that need to be applied in order to achieve greater adoption.
1. Make it simple and intuitive
2. Effective, efficient data entry
3. Deliver value to the farm business
4. Refine and focus information delivered
Keywords: Information Technology, Decision Support Tools, Agricultural Software, Agri-Tech