The Ethics of Agricultural Information Literacy of Farmers in the Coastal Sandy Land of Yogyakarta Special Region

Abstract

Agricultural information literacy of farmers is a prominant aspect for the growth of farmers. It can improve the human capital of farmers, promote efficiency of agriculture, and help in reaching better life conditions. However, the ability of farmer literacy is apparently lacking when compared to the wide availability of information. This study aims at exploring the extent of chili farming information literacy of farmers in the coastal sandy land of Yogyakarta Special Region and strengthening the farmers’ information ethics literacy. The research was conducted by using a semi structured questionnaire based survey of 50 farmers working in two villages of the coastal sandy land area. The result shows that farmers needed information of chili farming for various purposes. Meanwhile, farmers mostly concerned about the information of chili seed qualities and the price and marketing information of chili product. The fluctuation of price of chili has become a critical issue for farmers in every harvesting period. Other than agricultural information, information about economics, health, and culture were also prominant issues for them. Farmers relied on farmer group members in seeking the information while television is the most attractive media for them. Many farmers were well aware of modern techniques of agriculture on coastal sandy land because it is beneficial for chili farming. This paper strengthens the moral education of information literacy by paying attention to the code of ethics. In implementing of ethics of information literacy, farmers should have conducted the confirmation of new information, respected to the right of privacy, implemented social responsibility and considered self respect and had an initiative to seek, confirm and implement information.