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Towards Sustainable Digital Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers: A Systematic Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Nametshego Gumbi

    (Centre for Applied Data Science, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa)

  • Lucas Gumbi

    (Centre for Applied Data Science, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa)

  • Hossana Twinomurinzi

    (Centre for Applied Data Science, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa)

Abstract

Smallholder farmers are key contributors to food security globally, and more so in developing countries. Despite their critical role in food security, smallholder farmers are highly constrained by specific contextual challenges such as climate change, productivity, cost of production, credit access, and financial resources constraints that impact their sustenance, sustainability, and growth. Digital agriculture has emerged as a viable solution to addressing smallholder farmers’ contextual challenges, with many digital solutions already existing and developed to serve the agriculture sector. However, many smallholder farmers are beyond the reach of these digital solutions due to underdeveloped or nonexistent digital ecosystems. This paper reports on a systematic review conducted to examine the research that has been undertaken regarding digital agriculture ecosystems in relation to smallholder farmers and to identify challenges, usage, benefits, access, and uptake of the systems. The key findings reveal very limited research directed at digital literacy or skills, affordability, and business model innovation. Most of the challenges concern digital infrastructure, affordability, and digital literacy or skills. The findings also reveal that although digital agriculture is still a nascent concept to smallholder farmers, there are a few early adopters who access information mainly related to agriculture, selling, and marketing. There is, nonetheless, a lack of understanding of the value of digital agriculture systems. The study develops a research agenda that could facilitate digital transformation for smallholder farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Nametshego Gumbi & Lucas Gumbi & Hossana Twinomurinzi, 2023. "Towards Sustainable Digital Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:16:p:12530-:d:1219636
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lowder, Sarah K. & Skoet, Jakob & Singh, Saumya, 2014. "What do we really know about the number and distribution of farms and family farms in the world? Background paper for The State of Food and Agriculture 2014," ESA Working Papers 288983, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    2. Lage Junior, Muris & Godinho Filho, Moacir, 2010. "Variations of the kanban system: Literature review and classification," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(1), pages 13-21, May.
    3. Karolina Pawlak & Małgorzata Kołodziejczak, 2020. "The Role of Agriculture in Ensuring Food Security in Developing Countries: Considerations in the Context of the Problem of Sustainable Food Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Mariano, Enzo Barberio & Sobreiro, Vinicius Amorim & Rebelatto, Daisy Aparecida do Nascimento, 2015. "Human development and data envelopment analysis: A structured literature review," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 33-49.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiao Liu & Zhenyu Wang & Xiaoyan Han, 2024. "The Impact of Digital Literacy on Farmers’ Green Production Behavior: Mediating Effects Based on Ecological Cognition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Anastasios Michailidis & Chrysanthi Charatsari & Thomas Bournaris & Efstratios Loizou & Aikaterini Paltaki & Dimitra Lazaridou & Evagelos D. Lioutas, 2024. "A First View on the Competencies and Training Needs of Farmers Working with and Researchers Working on Precision Agriculture Technologies," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė & Rasa Melnikienė, 2024. "The Effects of Digitalization on the Sustainability of Small Farms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-12, May.
    4. Mishal Trevor Morepje & Moses Zakhele Sithole & Nomzamo Sharon Msweli & Azikiwe Isaac Agholor, 2024. "The Influence of E-Commerce Platforms on Sustainable Agriculture Practices among Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-24, July.

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