Information Management and Utilization in Urban Agriculture and the Impact of Farm Diversification

Farm diversification is a major management strategy to maintain the multifaceted functions of urban agriculture. To sustain management through diversification, farmers need to accumulate management resources and carefully select businesses to expand. Despite differences in information management by degree of farm diversification being unclear, farmers who implement information management have the potential to solve their diversification challenges more efficiently. Via quantitative analysis using the Census of Agriculture and Forestry and a multiple case analysis of seven farmers using farm management information systems (FMIS), this study identifies the relationship between information management and farm diversification in urban areas. The regression analysis reveals that farmers who diversify their businesses are likely to manage their business information, especially those who sell their products directly to consumers or food manufacturers, and food services. Multiple case analysis also indicates that farmers who diversify focus on searching for pesticide information and simplify the management of scheduled and actual farm work. Since urban farmers actively manage different types of information depending on the degree of diversification, vendors or extension advisors need to fully consider each farmerʼs business environment when proposing the use of FMIS and providing guidance on information management.