Smart agriculture for small-scale producers: precision technologies, opportunities, and challenges
Keywords:
smart agriculture, precision agriculture, smallholder farmers, agricultural sustainability, digital transformation.Abstract
Smart agriculture represents the evolution of precision agriculture through the integration of digital technologies, sensors, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, data analytics, and satellite imagery to optimize agricultural production and promote the efficient management of natural resources. In the context of smallholder farmers, these technologies provide opportunities to increase productivity, improve the sustainability of farming systems, and strengthen resilience to the impacts of climate change. However, their adoption continues to face significant economic, technological, and institutional constraints. The aim of this scoping review was to identify the main precision agriculture technologies applied by smallholder farmers, analyze the opportunities associated with their implementation, and synthesize the challenges affecting their adoption. The study was conducted following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines through the review of scientific literature, technical documents, and specialized reports published between 2018 and 2023. The findings indicate that smart agriculture contributes to continuous crop monitoring, optimized irrigation and fertilization, early detection of pests and diseases, process automation, and data-driven decision-making. Furthermore, the reviewed evidence highlights benefits related to reduced operational costs, increased agricultural productivity, and lower environmental impacts. Nevertheless, important challenges remain, including limited access to financing, inadequate rural connectivity, insufficient technological training, and the need for inclusive public policies. It is concluded that the digital transformation of the agricultural sector requires comprehensive strategies that promote the equitable adoption of precision agriculture technologies to enhance the competitiveness, sustainability, and food security of smallholder farming systems.
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References
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