Agricultural information systems a national case study
Identifieur interne : 001313 ( Istex/Corpus ); précédent : 001312; suivant : 001314Agricultural information systems a national case study
Auteurs : Nuray KizilaslanSource :
- Library Review [ 0024-2535 ] ; 2006-10-01.
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of the paper is to investigate the agricultural information system in Turkey, with particular reference to the effectiveness of this system for farmers. Designmethodologyapproach A case study based on a review of the literature, established knowledge and national experience to date. Findings That, in Turkey, there is insufficient connection between the publishing activities of research institutions and other institutions active in the field. This lack of coordination causes an incomplete distribution of agricultural information to farmers. In particular, this creates an information system in which there is no effective feedback in the researchpublishingfarmer triangle. Yet distribution of agricultural information to users and reciprocal user feedback is vital, because it is the essential mechanism by which a consistently reliable and effective distribution of information can be maintained. Research limitationsimplications Although the central thesis of the paper is not advanced by reference to original research on the part of the authors, it is based on preexisting, well respected research which is intelligently interpreted and authoritatively synthesized by them. Practical implications To solve problems of agricultural information flow, the lack of coordination among the various organizations concerned has to be dealt with effectively, and a single organization has to be set up where information is collected in and distributed from the center. Nonpublic publishing and research services have to be supported and encouraged in parallel with this. Originalityvalue The paper advances a clear plan of action for improving the information system in an area of great relevance to all developing countries.
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DOI: 10.1108/00242530610689347
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<front><div type="abstract">Purpose The purpose of the paper is to investigate the agricultural information system in Turkey, with particular reference to the effectiveness of this system for farmers. Designmethodologyapproach A case study based on a review of the literature, established knowledge and national experience to date. Findings That, in Turkey, there is insufficient connection between the publishing activities of research institutions and other institutions active in the field. This lack of coordination causes an incomplete distribution of agricultural information to farmers. In particular, this creates an information system in which there is no effective feedback in the researchpublishingfarmer triangle. Yet distribution of agricultural information to users and reciprocal user feedback is vital, because it is the essential mechanism by which a consistently reliable and effective distribution of information can be maintained. Research limitationsimplications Although the central thesis of the paper is not advanced by reference to original research on the part of the authors, it is based on preexisting, well respected research which is intelligently interpreted and authoritatively synthesized by them. Practical implications To solve problems of agricultural information flow, the lack of coordination among the various organizations concerned has to be dealt with effectively, and a single organization has to be set up where information is collected in and distributed from the center. Nonpublic publishing and research services have to be supported and encouraged in parallel with this. Originalityvalue The paper advances a clear plan of action for improving the information system in an area of great relevance to all developing countries.</div>
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<abstract><sec><title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title>
<x> – </x>
<p>The purpose of the paper is to investigate the agricultural information system in Turkey, with particular reference to the effectiveness of this system for farmers.</p>
</sec>
<sec><title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title>
<x> – </x>
<p>A case study based on a review of the literature, established knowledge and national experience to date.</p>
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<sec><title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title>
<x> – </x>
<p>That, in Turkey, there is insufficient connection between the publishing activities of research institutions and other institutions active in the field. This lack of coordination causes an incomplete distribution of agricultural information to farmers. In particular, this creates an information system in which there is no effective feedback in the “research–publishing–farmer” triangle. Yet distribution of agricultural information to users and reciprocal user feedback is vital, because it is the essential mechanism by which a consistently reliable and effective distribution of information can be maintained.</p>
</sec>
<sec><title content-type="abstract-heading">Research limitations/implications</title>
<x> – </x>
<p>Although the central thesis of the paper is not advanced by reference to original research on the part of the authors, it is based on pre‐existing, well respected research which is intelligently interpreted and authoritatively synthesized by them.</p>
</sec>
<sec><title content-type="abstract-heading">Practical implications</title>
<x> – </x>
<p>To solve problems of agricultural information flow, the lack of coordination among the various organizations concerned has to be dealt with effectively, and a single organization has to be set up where information is collected in and distributed from the center. Non‐public publishing and research services have to be supported and encouraged in parallel with this.</p>
</sec>
<sec><title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title>
<x> – </x>
<p>The paper advances a clear plan of action for improving the information system in an area of great relevance to all developing countries.</p>
</sec>
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<body><sec><title>Introductıon</title>
<p>Despite increasing urbanization, the majority of people in developing countries still live in rural areas or depend on rural activities for large parts of their livelihoods (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b1">Ballantyne, 2005</xref>
). Agriculture is their main source of economic support, especially in the case of the majority poor (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b13">Muyepa, 2002</xref>
). Information for agricultural and rural communities is therefore a crucial tool in the fight against poverty and the battle to achieve food security. Information helps to open up and provide opportunities for poor people: it helps them to actually make use of opportunities and to shape their own lives, while also helping reduce their vulnerability to sickness and misfortune (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b1">Ballantyne, 2005</xref>
).</p>
<p>Contemporary challenges facing agricultural information parallel those facing agricultural research and practice. Agriculture today must feed a growing population in a world of static or shrinking natural resources and increasing social and environmental constraints. Agricultural information professionals similarly must support agriculture by managing and improving access to a proliferating and increasingly complex array of information in a climate of shrinking resources and expanding constraints (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b21">Smith, 2003</xref>
). Information is a powerful tool in addressing other agricultural needs and if it is used appropriately it can radically change a nation's economy (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b28">Tshabalala, 2001</xref>
).</p>
<sec><title>The economics of agricultural information</title>
<p>Beginning with Adam Smith, economists have long recognized that information availability is a crucial component of efficient markets (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b17">Repo, 1989</xref>
; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b22">Stigler, 1961</xref>
). Governments consequently have assumed an important role in providing economic information to decision makers in agriculture (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b4">Just <italic>et al.</italic>
, 2002</xref>
).</p>
<p>More specifically, there is a widespread belief that information is vital for rural development (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b30">Wishart, 1995</xref>
). For example, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b14">Munyua (2000)</xref>
regards information as the least expensive input for rural development, and it can also be viewed as a basic, necessary ingredient for bringing about social and economic change in rural areas (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b12">Morris, 2000</xref>
). Rural areas in developing countries are generally perceived to be an information desert that is becoming increasingly marginalized as the technology and information gap between rural and urban areas widens (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b29">Wakelin and Simelane, 1995</xref>
). Rural communities, where agriculture is commonly the main activity, require information on <italic>inter alia,</italic>
the supply of agricultural inputs (seed, fertilizer), new technologies and innovations, early warning mechanisms (for pests, drought, disease) and credit facilities, markets, and such‐like (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b14">Munyua, 2000</xref>
).</p>
</sec>
<sec><title>A definition and model of agricultural information systems</title>
<p>An agricultural information system can be defined as “a system in which agricultural information is generated, transformed, transferred, consolidated, received and fed back in such a manner that these processes function synergistically to underpin knowledge utilization by agricultural producers” (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b19">Röling, 1988</xref>
).</p>
<p>Agricultural information is considered as an essential input to agricultural education, research and development and extension[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="n1">1</xref>
] activities. Different kinds of information are required by different kinds of users for different purposes. The potential users of agricultural information include government decision‐makers, policy‐makers, planners, researchers, teachers and students, programme managers, field workers and farmers (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b32">Zaman, 2002</xref>
).</p>
<p><xref ref-type="fig" rid="F_0350550804001">Figure 1</xref>
gives an illustration of the flow of agricultural information.</p>
<p>Commodity associations, private consultants, informal contacts/neighbors and extension activities, all represent important additional sources of information. Thus, in addition to fee‐based and publicly provided services, some information is obtained informally through social and professional interaction or is a by‐product of economic transactions. In the context of structural and organizational change in agriculture, the explosion of information technology, the growing sophistication of decision‐makers and their advisers, and shifts in conceptions of the appropriate role of the state in the economy, some have questioned the role of public and private sector actors in providing agricultural economic information services (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b31">Wolf <italic>et al.</italic>
, 2001</xref>
).</p>
<p>In order for public and private decision makers in the agricultural sector to use agricultural information for decision‐making, problem‐solving or to increase their knowledge, the necessary basic agricultural data must be available (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b2">Ehlers and Frick, 2000</xref>
).</p>
<p>With these considerations in mind, this paper takes the agricultural information system in Turkey as its object of study. There have in fact been many improvements in agricultural productivity and production in Turkey, especially since it was proclaimed a Republic in 1923. But subsequently a more ambitious, coordinated strategy for informing the farmer about modern techniques has emerged as a necessary objective. A public extension unit was thus assigned the task of achieving this objective. And, in addition to this extension strategy, agricultural schools have been founded to improve the communication of agricultural information to all possible users.</p>
</sec>
</sec>
<sec><title>The policy and practice of extension</title>
<p>In agriculture, the common pattern is that modern technologies are either developed by universities and research institutions, or alternatively they are transferred from abroad. The application of modern technologies to the countryside and to the target groups for whom they are intended is furthered by systems of agricultural extension (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b24">Talug and Tatlidil, 1986</xref>
). In the Turkish agricultural information system, a range of entities are intermingled with its three core system components of research institutions, extension systems, and farmers: this extra layer includes a variety of private institutions, consultancy agencies and various other organizations and institutions linked to agriculture. In Turkey, agricultural extension is mainly carried out by public institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA)[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="n2">2</xref>
] and its branches for Farmer Training and Extension. The agricultural research institutions and Faculties of Agriculture in various universities focus mainly on developing new agricultural technologies for Turkey.</p>
<sec><title>History and present structure</title>
<p>The first Extension Service was established as a central organization in the MARA, but was then put onto a national basis by being rolled out to all cities and counties in Turkey. This structure was steadily improved year by year until 1983 (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b6">Kumuk, 1993</xref>
).</p>
<p>The idea of reorganizing the MARA was then proposed in 1984 due to difficulties in coordination and administration with respect to modern management techniques, something caused by the increased number of units in the center which had built up between 1937 and 1984. To realize this change, in 1984 both the central and provincial structure of the Ministry was rearranged. This centralized the management of some central units of agricultural services in order to provide unity of control and better horizontal coordination (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b27">Taysi, 1998</xref>
).</p>
<p>In parallel with this, the general extension approach which was hitherto applied in Turkey was amended in 1984. After that, the Agricultural Extension and Applied Research Project (AEARP) and Training and Visit (T&V) approach was applied across the whole country.</p>
<p>The notion that ‘research creates knowledge, and extension transfers it to the farmers who utilize it’, underpins the “Training and Visit” (T&V) extension system employed by most countries (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b19">Röling, 1988</xref>
). To this end, in Turkey, a new agricultural extension system was adopted with the support of World Bank from 1984 onwards. This agricultural extension system was placed under the control of both the MARA and its provincial and county offices, with finance from the government. But it has not worked to full effect (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b15">Olgun, 1997</xref>
).</p>
<p>The Turkish MARA is responsible for implementing the system of agricultural extension, which is organized into 81 provinces, 802 counties, 894 Village Group Agricultural Centres (VGAC) and 56 Agricultural Research Directorates (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b11">MARA,2005</xref>
). The MARA works with seven main service units in its center, and one of these units, the General Directorate of Organization and Support, is responsible for agricultural extension. In the provincial network, the Farmer Training and Extension Branches offer extension service to farmers. See the Organizational chart of the MARA as given in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="F_0350550804002">Figure 2</xref>
.</p>
</sec>
<sec><title>New approaches</title>
<p>To render these extension services more effective, in 2004, 1,000 volunteer agriculturists were assigned to 1,000 villages by the MARA on a project called, the “Support project of village‐centered agricultural production”. Because of the perception that centralized solutions are not useful for farmers, this decentralized initiative intended to give on‐site information to villagers and to solve problems via dialogue with them. The project has not yet been concluded and so its exact outcomes are not as yet ascertained, but the preliminary feedback is that, in many villages, the desired objectives were indeed successfully attained.</p>
<p>There is an obvious connection here between effectiveness and success, and the number and qualifications of the employees working in this initiative. This connection is of the highest level of significance, since extension is fundamentally an educational process, one based on human factors and personal mediation. Thus, no doubt, the most important resources in such extension organizations are the people themselves who carry out the extension activities (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b23">Talug, 1982</xref>
). An increase in the qualifications of the extension workers would remove some of the obstacles to a smooth flow of information (e.g. communication with the farmer, or coordination with research institutions).</p>
<p>There are still problems in the system itself, in terms of planning extension activities, and the agricultural research–extension linkages are very weak. One way to overcome this problem may be to stop the over‐differentiation between research and extension institutions (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b16">Ozkaya and Olgun, 1993</xref>
). Extension activities themselves are still planned centrally and the information flow model is, more or less, from top to bottom. Thus, farmer participation in planning extension activities is very weak (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b15">Olgun, 1997</xref>
).</p>
<p>Studies of farmers' adoption of new technologies in industrial agriculture have often been framed within the traditional adoption‐diffusion model of innovation (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b3">Jones, 1963</xref>
) in which a few “innovators” initially adopt a conservation technology, then the majority of farmers do so, and finally the remaining “laggards” join in (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b18">Rogers,1962</xref>
). Farmer participation is especially valuable, since better communication between scientists and farmers would increase the utility and reliability of information reaching farmers. Research projects must intentionally incorporate farmers as sources of knowledge from the outset, rather than seeing them as passive receivers of information (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b8">McCorkle, 1989</xref>
; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b20">Saver, 1990</xref>
; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b5">Kloppenburg, 1991</xref>
).</p>
</sec>
</sec>
<sec><title>Research systems</title>
<p>Information systems are expected to provide an organizational backbone to support information flow among national agricultural research institutions (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b7">Maru, 2002</xref>
).</p>
<p>Research is needed in order to advance the availability of present levels of information, and, beyond this, to generate new information. Research takes place in academic as well as research institutions. Researchers require a variety of information types from numerous national, regional and international sources to enhance support for their research. Without a strong and responsive information base, quality research cannot be attained and the advances needed in the field of agriculture are inhibited. If research and development documentation remains unknown to users, effective, well‐informed studies can not be carried out as needed, resulting in a loss of time and wastage of resources (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b10">Miah, 1997</xref>
).</p>
<p>Successful studies show how the processes of extension and research are inextricably interlinked. Extension workers from across the world attending a conference in Rome in 1989 engaged in a fruitful dialogue about the three most successful courses of agricultural extension known to them, and pointed out how there was no chance of success for any extension activity, organization or programme unless it was supported and fed by research, (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b25">Talug, 1992</xref>
).</p>
<sec><title>Structure of agricultural research system in Turkey</title>
<p>In Turkey, the research and development institutions of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing work under the responsibility of the MARA (48), Ministry of Forestry (11) and General Directorate of Village Services (11).</p>
<p>The General Directorate of Agricultural Research is also under the MARA and has both central and provincial structures.</p>
<p>The Central Research Structure consists of the Council of Agricultural Research, Research Consultation Committees and the Program Coordinators, coordinated by the General Directorate of Researches.</p>
<p>The Provincial Research Structure consists of a network of Research Institutions. These comprise seven Central Research Institutions, 19 Basin Research Institutions, and 34 Subject and Discipline Research Institutions (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b11">MARA, 2005</xref>
). The Organizational chart of the agricultural research was given in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="F_0350550804002">Figure 2</xref>
. Also there are several institutions such as The Scientific and Technological Research Organization of Turkey (TUBITAK), TR Prime Ministry State Planning Organization (SPO) and the National Productivity Centre (NPC) supporting agricultural research projects. Additionally, varying faculties (of Agriculture, Forestry, Veterinary), farmer organizations, (cooperated unions, farmer unions, chambers of agriculture), voluntary institutions, and private agricultural institutions are available to both carry out research and promote the ‘extension’ of its findings.</p>
</sec>
<sec><title>Research areas</title>
<p>In Turkish agricultural research, different areas of interest have predominated at different times. For example:</p>
<list list-type="bullet"><list-item><label>• </label>
<p>agricultural mechanization in the 1950s;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>irrigation, agricultural control, and fertilization in 1960s and 1970s;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>seed‐raising and the development of new species (biotechnology advances) in 1980s.</p>
</list-item>
</list>
<p>Today, agricultural research activity concentrates mainly on the alternation of current production qualities, such as producing new species of animals and vegetation.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the potential for the transfer of agricultural technologies from developed countries is very limited in Turkey. The availability of foreign capital for the advancement of agriculture technologies, for export possibilities and for common investments is simply inadequate. Moreover, a network of international relations among research institutions is not as yet properly established.</p>
</sec>
<sec><title>Research and information flow</title>
<p>Agricultural information is generated from a variety of sources, such as universities, Research Institutions, the FAO, TUBİTAK, or SPO, and is then disseminated to farmers and those in agricultural areas by the extension attendants of provincial organizations run by the MARA, by state and private media, by private consultants, and by voluntary institutions and farmer organizations.</p>
<p>An important issue for Turkish farmers is their need for increased availability of sources of information, which would be particularly welcome and highly effective with regard to helping them make decisions and choices about agricultural production. There are two potential, untapped drivers which could increase the availability of sources of information in this area:</p>
<list list-type="bullet"><list-item><label>• </label>
<p>The potential for increased involvement of non‐public organizations in agricultural extension services (due to the reasons such as the increasing levels of investment made in the food industry, and increased levels of vertical integration, compared with the financial problems in the public extension sector);</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>Advances in the production and distribution technologies of information (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b26">Tatlidil and Ceylan, 2000</xref>
).</p>
</list-item>
</list>
</sec>
</sec>
<sec><title>Conclusions</title>
<p>In the flow of agricultural extension and information, despite the application of technological transfer approaches, many problems remain unsolved while indeed new ones have appeared, not just in Turkey but in the world as a whole.</p>
<p>Technological advances and software packages developed with the hope of promoting efficiency in the information dissemination practices of research institutions and universities, or even in the companies of the developed countries, have not in reality brought benefit to farmers. The effectiveness of the public extension program has in fact diminished, due to the reasons such as limits in budgets, lack of motivation and morale among staff, a decreasing and inappropriately distributed number of extension attendants, the non‐dynamic structure of the extension organizations, and disconnections in communication among research institutions, both internally and in their relations with other extension institutions.</p>
<p>Moreover, the small size of farms, illiteracy among farmers, the lack of organizational unity among farmers, and the instability of national agricultural policies have all played a part in undermining the effectiveness of the agricultural extension system. This demonstrates how vital aspects of the agricultural information system have not worked properly, with information failing to reach users in timely or effective fashion.</p>
<p>Our suggestions to help remove deficiencies in the agricultural information system would be as follows:</p>
<list list-type="bullet"><list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To set up a unique institution specifically for the purpose of promoting extension, but also with the role of gathering centrally all the necessary information for this task into its sphere of activity;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To establish coordination among research institutions;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To strengthen the connection between extension institutions and research institutions;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To establish coordination between the MARA and other extension institutions;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To raise the budget allocated to extension and research;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To introduce appropriate technologies to farmers which are tailored to their needs, instead of those technological packages which are generally available on world markets;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To set out new arrangements for extension programs so that the farmer can actively participate in the creation of programs, above all at the planning and application stages of extension;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To provide research and extension services that the farmers can shape, with regard to their needs;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To grant opportunities to involve farmers' organizations in the information system so that the farmers can enhance their productivity and improve their knowledge and abilities by first‐hand participation;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To support and promote the potential for extension activities from the non‐public sector;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To simplify the bureaucracy surrounding the use of both agricultural information and also human resources in extension effectively and efficiently;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To establish open communication forums with databanks, teletext, GSM systems, and all other relevant modern ICTs, to activate the information flow between the Ministry and Research Institutions and their information users;</p>
</list-item>
<list-item><label>• </label>
<p>To improve the value of human resources engaged in agriculture by improving the educational attainment levels of farmers.</p>
</list-item>
</list>
</sec>
<sec><fig position="float" id="F_0350550804001"><label><bold>Figure 1<x> </x>
</bold>
</label>
<caption><p>Concept map for agricultural information (Source: <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b9">McCue <italic>et al.</italic>
, 2005</xref>
)</p>
</caption>
<graphic xlink:href="0350550804001.tif"></graphic>
</fig>
</sec>
<sec><fig position="float" id="F_0350550804002"><label><bold>Figure 2<x> </x>
</bold>
</label>
<caption><p>Organizational chart of MAR A (Research and Extension Organization)</p>
</caption>
<graphic xlink:href="0350550804002.tif"></graphic>
</fig>
</sec>
</body>
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<app-group><app><title>Corresponding author</title>
<p>Nuray Kizilaslan can be contacted at: nurayk@gop.edu.tr</p>
</app>
</app-group>
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<mods version="3.6"><titleInfo lang="en"><title>Agricultural information systems a national case study</title>
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<titleInfo type="alternative" lang="en" contentType="CDATA"><title>Agricultural information systems a national case study</title>
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<name type="personal"><namePart type="given">Nuray</namePart>
<namePart type="family">Kizilaslan</namePart>
<affiliation>Gaziosmanpasa University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, 60240 Tokat, Turkey</affiliation>
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<dateIssued encoding="w3cdtf">2006-10-01</dateIssued>
<copyrightDate encoding="w3cdtf">2006</copyrightDate>
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<abstract>Purpose The purpose of the paper is to investigate the agricultural information system in Turkey, with particular reference to the effectiveness of this system for farmers. Designmethodologyapproach A case study based on a review of the literature, established knowledge and national experience to date. Findings That, in Turkey, there is insufficient connection between the publishing activities of research institutions and other institutions active in the field. This lack of coordination causes an incomplete distribution of agricultural information to farmers. In particular, this creates an information system in which there is no effective feedback in the researchpublishingfarmer triangle. Yet distribution of agricultural information to users and reciprocal user feedback is vital, because it is the essential mechanism by which a consistently reliable and effective distribution of information can be maintained. Research limitationsimplications Although the central thesis of the paper is not advanced by reference to original research on the part of the authors, it is based on preexisting, well respected research which is intelligently interpreted and authoritatively synthesized by them. Practical implications To solve problems of agricultural information flow, the lack of coordination among the various organizations concerned has to be dealt with effectively, and a single organization has to be set up where information is collected in and distributed from the center. Nonpublic publishing and research services have to be supported and encouraged in parallel with this. Originalityvalue The paper advances a clear plan of action for improving the information system in an area of great relevance to all developing countries.</abstract>
<subject><genre>keywords</genre>
<topic>Agriculture</topic>
<topic>Information services</topic>
<topic>Turkey</topic>
</subject>
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<topic authority="SubjectCodesPrimary" authorityURI="cat-LISC">Library & information science</topic>
<topic authority="SubjectCodesSecondary" authorityURI="cat-IBRT">Information behaviour & retrieval</topic>
<topic authority="SubjectCodesSecondary" authorityURI="cat-LISE">Library & information services</topic>
<topic authority="SubjectCodesSecondary" authorityURI="cat-ILIT">Information literacy</topic>
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<identifier type="ISSN">0024-2535</identifier>
<identifier type="PublisherID">lr</identifier>
<identifier type="DOI">10.1108/lr</identifier>
<part><date>2006</date>
<detail type="volume"><caption>vol.</caption>
<number>55</number>
</detail>
<detail type="issue"><caption>no.</caption>
<number>8</number>
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<extent unit="pages"><start>497</start>
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