Agrotechnology

Precision Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers: Challenges and Opportunities

Nikos Zecca^* Department of Agribusiness, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
^*Correspondence: Nikos Zecca, Department of Agribusiness, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary, Email:

Received: 04-Aug-2023, Manuscript No. AGT-23-23051; Editor assigned: 07-Aug-2023, Pre QC No. AGT-23-23051 (PQ); Reviewed: 21-Aug-2023, QC No. AGT-23-23051; Revised: 28-Aug-2023, Manuscript No. AGT-23-23051 (R); Published: 04-Sep-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2168-9881.23.12.336

Description

Precision agriculture represents a data-centric approach to managing farms, which has the potential to enhance productivity and crop yields, ultimately boosting the profitability of agricultural endeavors. It achieves this by minimizing resource usage, such as water and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, thereby mitigating the environmental impact of farming practices. The proliferation of digital technologies, including mobile devices, satellite-based remote sensing, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cloud computing, coupled with their increasing affordability, is democratizing the adoption of precision agriculture techniques among smallholder farmers in developing nations. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that precision agriculture also brings forth a set of challenges and opportunities for small-scale farmers, who frequently grapple with limited access to essential resources, infrastructure, markets, and critical information.

Challenges and opportunities precision agriculture

Digital infrastructure and connectivity: Precision agriculture relies on the availability and quality of digital infrastructure and connectivity, such as broadband internet, mobile networks, satellites, and sensors. However, many rural areas in developing countries face poor or no connectivity, limiting the potential of precision agriculture applications. Moreover, the cost of digital infrastructure and connectivity can be prohibitive for smallholder farmers, who often have low incomes and limited access to finance. Therefore, there is a need to invest in and improve the digital infrastructure and connectivity in rural areas, as well as to provide affordable and inclusive digital services for smallholder farmers.

Digital literacy and skills: Precision agriculture requires a certain level of digital literacy and skills among smallholder farmers, such as the ability to use digital devices, access and analyze data, and apply the insights to their farming practices. However, many smallholder farmers lack the necessary digital literacy and skills, especially among women, youth, and marginalized groups. Moreover, the rapid pace of technological change can make it difficult for smallholder farmers to keep up with the latest innovations and best practices. Therefore, there is a need to provide adequate training and education for smallholder farmers on how to use precision agriculture applications effectively and efficiently.

Data ownership and privacy: Precision agriculture generates a large amount of data on various aspects of farming, such as soil quality, weather, crop growth, pest infestation, etc. This data can be valuable for smallholder farmers, as well as for other stakeholders in the agri-food value chain, such as input suppliers, processors, traders, consumers, researchers, policymakers, etc. However, there are also risks associated with data ownership and privacy, such as data theft, misuse, manipulation, or exploitation by third parties. Therefore, there is a need to establish clear and transparent rules and regulations on data ownership and privacy, as well as to ensure that smallholder farmers have control over their own data and can benefit from its use.

Innovation ecosystem: Precision agriculture involves a complex and dynamic innovation ecosystem that consists of various actors and institutions that support the development and adoption of precision agriculture applications. These include technology providers, service providers, intermediaries, extension agents, research organizations, civil society organizations, governments, etc. However, many developing countries lack a conducive innovation ecosystem that can foster collaboration and coordination among these actors and institutions. Moreover, there may be barriers or gaps in the innovation ecosystem that hinder the scaling up of precision agriculture applications for smallholder farmers. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the innovation ecosystem for precision agriculture by creating platforms for dialogue and partnership among different stakeholders.

In conclusion, precision agriculture has the potential to transform the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in developing countries by enhancing their productivity, profitability, and sustainability. However, it also poses several challenges and opportunities that need to be addressed through collective action by various stakeholders in the agri-food value chain. By leveraging the power of digital technologies and data-driven decision making, precision agriculture can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to food security, nutrition, poverty reduction, climate action, and environmental protection.