DIGITALIZATION OF AGRICULTURE PUBLIC SERVICES IN SERBIA

Digitalization, being one of the major drivers of change in the 21st century, has fundamentally altered the way the global economy and society thought to be developing. The digital transformation of agricultural systems will most certainly have effects on the creation of information and knowledge, the institutional environment and management, as well as relations between stakeholders, both private and public. Digitalization of public services in the agricultural sector is the part of a broader strategy of digital transformation of this economic activity, the expected outcome of which is the transition of traditional agriculture to agriculture 4.0 and digitalization of farms. Timely provision of appropriate information to farmers is essential to increase the efficiency and sustainability of small farms. Strengthening market activities, improving interaction with key stakeholders, better connecting agricultural producers and empowerment through access to information can be considered as the main benefits of ICT application in agriculture. However, critical factors for the success of digitalization of public services in agriculture, such as connectivity, usefulness of information content and the ability to make decisions based on information provided using ICT, affect the success of acceptance of changes, especially in developing countries.Digitalization, being one of the major drivers of change in the 21st century, has fundamentally altered the way the global economy and society thought to be developing. The digital transformation of agricultural systems will most certainly have effects on the creation of information and knowledge, the institutional environment and management, as well as relations between stakeholders, both private and public. Digitalization of public services in the agricultural sector is the part of a broader strategy of digital transformation of this economic activity, the expected outcome of which is the transition of traditional agriculture to agriculture 4.0 and digitalization of farms. Timely provision of appropriate information to farmers is essential to increase the efficiency and sustainability of small farms. Strengthening market activities, improving interaction with key stakeholders, better connecting agricultural producers and empowerment through access to information can be considered as the main benefits of ICT application in agriculture. However, critical factors for the success of digitalization of public services in agriculture, such as connectivity, usefulness of information content and the ability to make decisions based on information provided using ICT, affect the success of acceptance of changes, especially in developing countries.