Precision agriculture (PA) is increasingly becoming part of contemporary agriculture in smallholder farming systems in the developing world. It contributes to improving crop productivity and hence attainment of food security and improved income for the farmers, while improving resource use efficiencies and thus reducing leakages to the environment and therefore fostering environmental sustainability. This chapter focuses on progress made on PA and how it offers potential to benefit women farmers who have limited access to resources in smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Digital decision support tools including those that are aided using artificial intelligence can provide cost-effective and efficient extension alternatives and improve access to PA technologies, particularly given the pervasive information asymmetry in smallholder farming systems. However, government programs and policies should be gender inclusive to reduce the traditional systemic gender inequalities.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Does Precision Agriculture Create a Technological Gap Between Genders—An African Perspective

  • Pauline Chivenge,
  • Melanie Connor

摘要

Precision agriculture (PA) is increasingly becoming part of contemporary agriculture in smallholder farming systems in the developing world. It contributes to improving crop productivity and hence attainment of food security and improved income for the farmers, while improving resource use efficiencies and thus reducing leakages to the environment and therefore fostering environmental sustainability. This chapter focuses on progress made on PA and how it offers potential to benefit women farmers who have limited access to resources in smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Digital decision support tools including those that are aided using artificial intelligence can provide cost-effective and efficient extension alternatives and improve access to PA technologies, particularly given the pervasive information asymmetry in smallholder farming systems. However, government programs and policies should be gender inclusive to reduce the traditional systemic gender inequalities.