Title: Investigating educational mobile apps for agriculture

Authors: Constantina Costopoulou; Sotiris Karetsos; Maria Ntaliani

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Economics and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece ' Department of Agricultural Economics and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece ' Department of Agricultural Economics and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Abstract: Successful mobile apps require user-centred processes for engaging users in app development. Mobile apps can deliver essential information for agriculture, such as market information, and environmental principles; assist farming activities, such as disease management; and provide expert consultation and education. In this light, the objective of this article is twofold: firstly to depict the current status of agricultural mobile apps provision; and secondly to implement and evaluate two educational mobile apps, for beekeeping and olive cultivation, following a user-centred process for involving agricultural stakeholders. The literature and market review show that there is an increasing interest in agricultural mobile apps and a very limited number of agricultural mobile apps. The used methodology can serve as a roadmap for other agricultural sub-sectors or business sectors. The mobile app evaluation highlighted the need for providing certified, in-time, and localised information for specific agricultural activities.

Keywords: agriculture; mobile applications; education; user-centred design; UCD; agricultural stakeholders; beekeeping; unified modelling language; UML; olive cultivation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSAMI.2020.112124

International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics, 2020 Vol.6 No.3, pp.272 - 287

Received: 13 Feb 2020
Accepted: 18 Jun 2020
Published online: 04 Jan 2021 *

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