Emerging Trends in Providing Electronic Access to Urban Agriculturists in North America

Abstract

The practice of growing, processing and distributing food in or around a village, town, or city is also known as urban agriculture (UA). UA is gaining importance as a step towards achieving food security. The RUAF Foundation, an international rural and urban development organization has expounded what, why, and how of urban agriculture. Urban agriculture is a continuous process that increases as the city grows. Urban agriculture is a freelance activity or hobby where the residents perform as growers, care takers, marketers, and as consumers. They may be called neo-agriculturists. Urban agriculture in North America is on the rise. By and large these neo-agriculturists lack viable sources of information to practice their newfound calling. The print media, television and service agencies are unidirectional have their own limitations in catering effectively to the information needs of urban farmers. The emergence of Internet and associated social media with various or channels has greatly facilitated farmers in advancing urban agriculture. This paper highlights each of the selected social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and You Tube and their relevance, usage and popularity in keeping the neo agriculturists abreast of knowhow of show how of do how (demonstration).