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A Review of Practice and Implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) for Smallholder Agriculture

Author

Listed:
  • Anish Paul Antony

    (D-Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA)

  • Kendra Leith

    (D-Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA)

  • Craig Jolley

    (U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington, DC 20004, USA
    Freedom Consulting Group, Columbia, MD 21046, USA)

  • Jennifer Lu

    (D-Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA)

  • Daniel J. Sweeney

    (D-Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA)

Abstract

In order to feed a growing global population projected to increase to 9 billion by 2050, food production will need to increase from its current level. The bulk of this growth will need to come from smallholder farmers who rely on generational knowledge in their farming practices and who live in locations where weather patterns and seasons are becoming less predictable due to climate change. The expansion of internet-connected devices is increasing opportunities to apply digital tools and services on smallholder farms, including monitoring soil and plants in horticulture, water quality in aquaculture, and ambient environments in greenhouses. In combination with other food security efforts, internet of things (IoT)-enabled precision smallholder farming has the potential to improve livelihoods and accelerate low- and middle-income countries’ journey to self-reliance. Using a combination of interviews, surveys and site visits to gather information, this research presents a review of the current state of the IoT for on-farm measurement, cases of successful IoT implementation in low- and middle-income countries, challenges associated with implementing the IoT on smallholder farms, and recommendations for practitioners.

Suggested Citation

  • Anish Paul Antony & Kendra Leith & Craig Jolley & Jennifer Lu & Daniel J. Sweeney, 2020. "A Review of Practice and Implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) for Smallholder Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:9:p:3750-:d:354334
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nick Turman-Bryant & Corey Nagel & Lauren Stover & Christian Muragijimana & Evan A. Thomas, 2019. "Improved Drought Resilience Through Continuous Water Service Monitoring and Specialized Institutions—A Longitudinal Analysis of Water Service Delivery Across Motorized Boreholes in Northern Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Chrysanthos Maraveas & Christos-Spyridon Karavas & Dimitrios Loukatos & Thomas Bartzanas & Konstantinos G. Arvanitis & Eleni Symeonaki, 2023. "Agricultural Greenhouses: Resource Management Technologies and Perspectives for Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-46, July.
    3. Parra-López, Carlos & Reina-Usuga, Liliana & Garcia-Garcia, Guillermo & Carmona-Torres, Carmen, 2024. "Functional analysis of technological innovation systems enabling digital transformation: A semi-quantitative multicriteria framework applied in the olive sector," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
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    5. Awais Ali & Tajamul Hussain & Noramon Tantashutikun & Nurda Hussain & Giacomo Cocetta, 2023. "Application of Smart Techniques, Internet of Things and Data Mining for Resource Use Efficient and Sustainable Crop Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-22, February.
    6. Ruiyu Sun & Siyao Zhang & Tianyu Wang & Jiarui Hu & Junhu Ruan & Junyong Ruan, 2021. "Willingness and Influencing Factors of Pig Farmers to Adopt Internet of Things Technology in Food Traceability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Ritu Raj Lamsal & P. Karthikeyan & Pablo Otero & Alfonso Ariza, 2023. "Design and Implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) Platform Targeted for Smallholder Farmers: From Nepal Perspective," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-21, September.
    8. Lija Chandran TV & Mohammed Shahid Abdulla, 2021. "ALS-ORAN 5G: Adapting to Lowpower-WAN & Satellite - Open Radio Access Network in 5G," Working papers 476, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode.
    9. Xue Chen & Ye Jin & Shiping Mao, 2021. "How Can Apple Farmers Be Encouraged to Apply Information Technology? The Moderating Effect of Knowledge Sharing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-16, September.

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