The advances in information and communication technologies (ICT), which have become increasingly important, have contributed to the increase of the economic growth of the countries and the improvement of the living standards of the individuals.According to this many countries have recognized the imperative of digital technologies, acknowledging the necessity to educate their citizens. The improvement of digital infrastructures and mobile technologies creates new opportunities for increased citizen digital participation; however, digital participation faces numerous challenges. The role and significance of ICT and information literacy within agricultural activities present through a review of European development initiatives and theoretical insights regarding this topic. It will reveal obstacles on the current level of skills and promote the readiness to adopt new knowledge and technologies. Proficiency in basic computer skills and information literacy will contribute to empowerment and emancipation of farmers who can become active participants in further agriculture development stages within the chain of decision-making. As an important social group, farmers should be empowered through training programmes within the education system and through other initiatives aimed at upgrading the existing body of knowledge After we defined the problems and the needs, we have designed the "Developing Farmers' Digital Skills (DIGIFARMER)" project.Our partnership composed of agricultural local authorities,NGOs,vet insitutions and digital companies from Turkey,Chezc Republic,Spain and Italy. Our project aims to contribute to the active involvement of rural farmers/producers in social & business life and to ensure that farmers are more active by increasing digital transversal skills; thus to increase their efficiency and productivity in their life. And our project will provide training on developing digital skills ensuring that therural population is able to take advantage of new technologies and tools. The objectives of our project are; Increase the digital skills of farmers who live in rural areas Develop trainers' cross-skills and competencies Develop an innovative educational methodology in the digital field Increase productivity & efficiency through increasing farmers’ transversal skills Develop digital citizenship skills of rural farmers Ensure farmers to use internet tools & smartphone applications in social and business life effectively. In our project;We will produce Digital skills taining course-module,learning/Training Materials (printed and digital),training tools and OER,digifarmer Website,digifarmer application (smartphone app) and Digifarmer E-Platform as intellectual outputs. We will identify key drivers for digital citizen participation and compares the results in the context of rural and urban settings. The descriptive analyses provide insights on digital competence differences in the rural versus urban areas and their current usages of online public services 22 Trainers will be trained to improve their digital skills and competences By implementing and on its completion of the project main expected results and outcomes are; -Digital skills of rural farmers/producers who live in rural areas will be increased providing to rural farmers different problem solving ways. -Farmers who live in rural areas will become more active in their social life and in their works. -Trainers' cross-skills and competencies will have been developed. -An innovative educational methodology in the digital field for rural farmers will be developed.
The advances in information and communication technologies (ICT), which have become increasingly important, have contributed to the increase of the economic growth of the countries and the improvement of the living standards of the individuals. According to this many countries have recognized the imperative of digital technologies, acknowledging the necessity to educate their citizens. Improvement of digital infrastructures and mobile technologies creates new opportunities for increased digital participation of citizens; however, digital participation faces many challenges. In particular, most of the farmers cannot use the programs and services to follow the technological developments due to the lack of digital skills. The role and importance of ICT and information literacy in agricultural activities is presented through a review of European development initiatives and related theoretical insights. ICT and information literacy will reveal barriers to existing skill levels and encourage readiness to adopt new information and technologies. As an important social group, farmers should be empowered through training programs within the education system and other initiatives aimed at upgrading existing knowledge. Digitalization in Agriculture is one of the issues that both the EU and Turkey attach great importance to. It is necessary to develop the digital literacy of the farmers, in other words their skills to use digital technology, communication tools or networks, and to use the digital environment effectively. The project "Developing Farmers' Digital Skills (DIGIFARMER)" was designed in the light of these needs; and was carried out with a strong partnership of 9 institutions/organizations which are Aydın Il Tarim ve Orman Mudurlugu (Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry)-Turkey, Aydın Valiliği (Aydın Governorship- EU and Foreign Relations Office)-Turkey, Aydın Adnan Menderes Universitesi-Turkey, Institut pro trénink pohostinnosti-Czech Republic, Anaptixiako Kentro Thessalias (Developmental Centre of Thessalias)-Greece, Euroform RFS, Italy, Inercia Digital SL-Spain Soke Zirai Uretim Isletmesi Tarimsal Yayim ve Hizmetici Egitim Merkezi Mudurlugu (Directorate of Agricultural Production Enterprise, Agricultural Extension And In-Service Training Center), Turkey and Karpuzlu Ziraat Odası (Chamber of Agriculture),Turkey. Our project aims to contribute to the active participation of rural farmers/producers in social and business life by increasing their digital skills, thus increasing their efficiency and productivity in their lives. It will provide training/learning opportunities in the development of digital skills that enable the rural population to benefit from new technologies and tools. The objectives of our project are; -to increase the digital skills of farmers/producers who live in rural areas -to develop trainers' cross-skills and competencies -to develop an innovative educational methodology in the digital field -to increase productivity & efficiency through increasing farmers’ transversal skills -to develop digital citizenship skills of rural farmers -to ensure farmers to use internet tools & smartphone applications in social and business life effectively. During the implementation of the project, the following outputs were produced: -Digifarmer Web Site - digifarmer.net, -"Farmers' Digital Skills” Training Course/ Module, -Learning/educational materials (printed and digital): "Farmers' Digital Skills" book, "Farmers' Digital Skills" Methodological Handbook, Brochures: Guidelines for E-Learning Platform, “Farmer Platform & Forum/Discussion Platform” Guidelines for Moderator, “Farmer Platform & Forum/Discussion Platform” Guidelines for User -E-Learning Platform - https://moodle.digifarmer.net, -Digifarmer smartphone application interface (both Android: DigiFarmer and IOS: Digifarmer), -Digifarmer Network "Farmer Platform" – https://netwok.digifarmer.net -Digifarmer Forum/Discussion Platform – https://bb.digifarmer.net Totally 372 farmers participated in the surveys. Pilot trainings were conducted with 183 farmers face-to-face and 400 participants enrolled to the E-learning Platform. 23 trainers from partner organizations were trained to develop their digital skills and competences. Multiplier events were organised in 5 partner countries with over 300 participants. In order to enable farmers to take part in this world, it is necessary to increase their competence in this field by providing them with digital skills through trainings and various tools. Competences in basic computer skills and information literacy will contribute to the empowerment and liberation of farmers, enabling them to become active participants in further agricultural development stages and in decision-making chains.