INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) IN BERRY AND FRUIT FARMS COOPERATION IN LITHUANIA
INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) IN BERRY AND FRUIT FARMS COOPERATION IN LITHUANIA

Summary/Abstract: The article analyses theoretical and practical aspects of the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in agricultural co-operation. ICT change is much faster in agricultural organizations than in any other activity. ICT helps agricultural cooperatives improve their operations. But it is very difficult to assess the impact and extent of ICT integration into agricultural co-operation, as Lithuanian berry and fruit farms are fragmented into separate fields of activity. One way to increase the impact of ICT on agricultural co-operation is to identify key factors from a range of economic, strategic and organizational factors and to increase their impact on agricultural efficiency and high value-added farm development.A quantitative exploratory study, commissioned by the Lithuanian Association of Berry Growers, Processors and Traders, revealed that integration of ICT into agricultural co-operation requires consideration of key groups of factors - economic, strategic and organizational. Each set of factors has distinctive factors that need to be addressed and maximized in order to increase operational efficiency, compete in the market and develop high value-added farms. These are strategic intelligence and data security; increasing revenue and reducing costs; continuous employee development, leadership and communications development. The analysis of the survey results revealed that the rapid integration of ICT into the agricultural co-operation in Lithuanian berry and fruit farms, the development of efficient agricultural activities while raising the productivity of the whole agriculture, and the development of high value added farms.

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