Realigning Library and Information services and extension services to sustain agricultural information services in Zimbabwe: Case of urban farming

Abstract

Globally the key role of agricultural information services cannot be underestimated because agriculture and food production are key facets of inclusive development. Farmers have dynamic and intricate information needs that can be fulfilled through well coordinated agricultural information services premised on appropriate modern technologies. The world over, access to agricultural information through modern technology has become the epicenter of all facets of the national economy and the struggle for sustainable development. Agriculture is the mainstay of Zimbabwe’s economy but however its success is premised on a number of factors chief among them being access to timeous and accurate information. The paper will explore information services that agricultural libraries provide to extension officers, for example, provision of information on prevention and cure of plants, animal’s diseases, training, crop assessment and farm management among others. It will further explore the challenges and opportunities that agricultural libraries face in providing for the information needs of farmers in urban areas. It will examine agricultural libraries and extension services nexus in the context of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s).The writers will explore the critical role of libraries in promoting access to agricultural information in print and electronic format. Furthermore, the paper will highlight how agricultural libraries can strengthen agricultural extension through ...