Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry

Big Data Approaches for Agricultural and Health Systems Monitoring: Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa from Global Experiences

Manfred Obinwanne Igwenagu — 2026-01-07

Big data enabled technologies are increasingly recognized as important tools for strengthening agricultural productivity and health systems monitoring, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This study presents a scoping review of existing evidence on the application of big data approaches including artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), remote sensing, and digital surveillance platforms for agricultural and health systems monitoring, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025 were identified from major scientific databases and screened based on predefined eligibility criteria. Six studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized narratively. The findings indicate that big data applications in SSA are predominantly implemented at pilot or early operational stages, with limited large-scale integration across sectors. Common data sources included routine administrative records, sensor-generated data, remote sensing imagery, and digital reporting platforms. Reported benefits included improved timeliness, situational awareness, and decision support; however, implementation was constrained by infrastructure limitations, data quality challenges, limited analytical capacity, governance issues, and sustainability concerns. Evidence of integrated, multi-source surveillance particularly within One Health frameworks remains limited. Overall, this scoping review highlights both the potential and the current gaps in the use of big data approaches for agricultural and health systems monitoring in SSA. Context-sensitive implementation, capacity building, data governance, and institutional coordination are essential to translating technological innovation into sustainable improvements in food security and public health outcomes.

Cost and Returns Analysis of Sugarcane Production in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India

C. V. Dhanusree — 2026-01-02

The study aims to identify the socioeconomic profile of farmers, calculate different input prices, net returns per-acre in different sizes of farms, and propose evidence-based policies to stabilize agricultural income. The study has a sample of 120 sugarcane-producing households that were chosen by the use of a multistage random sampling method among four representative villages in the selected blocks. The structured interview schedules were used to gather primary data in the agricultural year 2025. A percentage test was used to assess the proportion of the ratio input of factors and the resultant revenue system of marginal, small, medium, and large farms. The findings showed that sugarcane farmer incurs 62.90 percent on hired workers, which is the most important cost element because there is industrial competition in the area regarding the availability of the workforce. A net average of 31,233 per acre was achieved in the study. Even an examination of farm sizes shows that the highest level of the economies of scale is achieved at the range of 5.0-7.5 acre that produces the best relative net returns. The study suggests that one should embrace the use of labour-saving technologies and micro-irrigation systems. Intervention by the government is proposed to give fair credit support and to correct price-fixing systems (FRP), such that they reflect properly increasing costs of labour and inputs.

Analysis of Land Use-land Cover Mapping and Vegetation Status of Kechemo Watershed, Keyih Tekli District, Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Haftaye Hadush — 2026-01-08

Assessing the Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) type of a watershed is crucial for environmental management, urban planning, agriculture, disaster mitigation and sustainable development. In Ethiopia, Climate Action through Landscape Management (CALM) Program for Results has been participating in land degradation reduction activities. And currently, it has expanded its program in to Tigray region, Kechemo watershed. However, the current LULC type and vegetation status of the watershed have not been studied, making it impossible to observe and evaluate changes resulting from the program's intervention. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess and map the current land use type of Kechemo watershed. Sentinel 2 image (2024 and 2025) was used to determine the land use and the vegetation index of the watershed. The land use type was classified with the help of supervised classification method using support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. Besides, the vegetation index of the watershed was determined using NDVI and OSAVI vegetation index. The results show that the watershed consists of cultivated land (66.94%), shrub land (28.96%), bare land (3.46%), and settlements (0.64%). The overall accuracy and kappa coefficient was 90.04% and 0.87 respectively. In addition, the NDVI and OSAVI value is highest in autumn (0.436) and lowest in winter (-0.111) season. Averagely, about 56.3% and 42.2% vegetation index of the watershed is classified under low vegetation class and bare land respectively. Therefore, it is recommended to give more emphasis to restore the vegetation resource of the watershed to improve the ecosystem service of the watershed.

Identification of the Potential for Increasing the Economic Value of Arabica Coffee as a Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) on Lombok Island

L. Sukardi — 2026-01-13

Arabica coffee on Lombok Island has significant potential as a Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) that integrates ecological sustainability, community livelihoods, and economic value within forest-based agroforestry systems. This study aims to identify existing potentials and formulate strategies to enhance the economic value of Arabica coffee as an NTFP through an agroforestry-based approach. A qualitative case study was conducted in major Arabica coffee production areas within forest and agroforestry landscapes in Sajang and Sembalun, using interviews, field observations, document analysis, and focus group discussions, with data analyzed thematically. The results show that Lombok Arabica coffee has strong biophysical and ecological advantages, including high-altitude conditions, a cool climate, fertile volcanic soils, and sustainable agroforestry practices, which produce high-quality beans with distinctive sensory characteristics suitable for specialty coffee markets. However, its economic potential has not been fully optimized due to uneven productivity, limited adoption of improved cultivation and post-harvest technologies, weak farmer institutions, lack of certification, and constrained market access and branding. This study identifies seven strategic pillars for strengthening the economic value of Arabica coffee as an NTFP, encompassing improved agroforestry based cultivation, post-harvest innovation and quality assurance, circular economy oriented product diversification, collective certification schemes, cooperative strengthening and digitalization, Geographic Indication based branding, and supportive local government policies. These strategies provide practical guidance for policymakers and community-based forest managers in promoting sustainable NTFP development and rural livelihoods in tropical forest landscapes.

Morphological Characterization and Distribution Survey of Endangered Adansonia digitata Linn. Tree Species in Ten Districts of Uttar Pradesh, India

Yashwant Rai — 2026-01-15

Adansonia digitata, is an exquisite endangered tree species in India. This tree has been declared as heritage site (according to biodiversity board, U.P.) in many districts such as Sichora village Mahoba, Hamirpur, kintoor Barabanki, Jhusi Pryagraj, district Industrial center Sultanpur and Nawab Wajid Ali Shah zoological Garden Lucknow. According to the prevalent legend in Kintoor Barabanki Sichora, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Sultanpur, Chandrashekhar Azad Park, Prayagraj. Adansonia digitata trees are recognized as the sacred Parijat and kalpavriksha or wishing tree of Indian mythology. The unique shape and external structure of this tree's trunk have attracted environmentalists, botanists, research scholar and tourists over the past few years. The districts were selected based on the prevalence of Adansonia digitata species. This paper represent data on the number, age, included distribution Adansonia digitata trees, girth size, flowering and fruiting period; and recorded parameters such as fruit shape, fruit size, fresh fruit weight, dry fruit weight, number of seeds per fruit, pulp weight, and seed weight, seed coloured and seed length from the 13 study sites. The survey was conducted from November 24, 2012 to December 15, 2025. A total of 27 (15 flowering and 12 non flowering) Adansonia digitata trees were recorded from 13 study sites across 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh. The 07 fruiting trees were recorded at 5 locations (study sites). The percentage of fruiting trees was very less 25.92%. Almost it was travelled over 5000 kilometres during this fieldwork. Approximately 50,000 photographs of Adansonia digitata were taken from the 13 study sites during the Survey period. The main centre of research work was I.P. (P.G.) College first campus, Bulandshahr and Panchvati, Numaish Ground Bulandshahr. Very limited populations of this valuable tree species were recorded in Uttar Pradesh. The survey conducted on this tree species at 13 study sites across 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh will provide accurate information in the future.

Assessment of the Relationship Between Heavy Metal Content and Soil Chemical Properties in Soils of Contrasting Parent Materials in South East Nigeria

Nwanne, A. J. — 2026-01-16

This study investigated the influence of parent materials and soil properties on the distribution and concentration of heavy metals in soils in South East Nigeria. Three farms were sampled in each parent material at 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm depths using soil auger and analyzed for selected physical and chemical properties alongside zinc, copper and lead concentrations following standard methods. The experiment was laid out as a 4×3 factorial in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four levels of factor A (parent material) - shale, alluvium, sandstone and coastal plain sand and three levels of factor B (Soil Depth). Data collected was subjected to two-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Genstat 12, significant means were separated using Fishers Least Significant Difference (F-LSD) and the relationship between heavy metal content and soil chemical properties in the parent materials was analyzed using Pearson correlation matrix plot. Soils generally showed moderate (pH = 5.6-6.0) to strongly acid (pH <5.5). Organic matter was lower in subsurface soils but moderate at 0-20cm depth (values ranged between 1.5-2.0%) and available phosphorus was seen to be moderate across all parent materials and depths studied (8-20mg/kg). Exchangeable calcium was low (<5cmol/kg), while magnesium recorded moderate to low values and potassium was generally moderate (values ranged from 0.2-0.4cmol/kg). Results also indicated clear relationships between soil properties and heavy metals in the different soil parent materials. Zn, Cu and Pb positively correlated with AP, total nitrogen and organic matter while negative correlations were observed with clay in sandstone developed soils. Zinc and lead had no observed relationship with soil properties in soils developed from shale and alluvium respectively whereas lead positively correlated with sand, calcium and magnesium in coastal plain sand. Shale derived soils exhibited the highest metal concentrations due to their fine texture and mineral rich composition while soils developed from sandstone and coastal plain sands contained significantly lower levels reflecting their lower chemical activity. The soils were generally dominated by zinc followed by lead and the least metal therein was copper. The study recommends regular monitoring of heavy metals especially those formed from metal rich parent materials, soil fertility improvement using organic amendments, adoption of soil specific management strategies and sustainable land use practices.

Determining the Cost of Production, Break-Even Point, and Sensitivity Analysis of Oyster Mushroom Chips Production

Leony Artamepia — 2026-01-17

Oyster Mushroom Etam (JATAM) is the only MSME producing packaged oyster mushroom chips in Samarinda City. This study aims to determine the calculation and comparison of production costs currently applied by JATAM MSME, using the full costing and variable costing methods, determine the break-even point, and measure the business's sensitivity to changes in the break-even point. The research method used was a case study. Data were analyzed using production cost calculation methods, namely full costing and variable costing, as well as break-even point (BEP) analysis and sensitivity analysis. The results show that JATAM MSME's method resulted in a production cost of IDR 12,182.20 per package. The full costing method resulted in the highest production cost of IDR 13,077.86 per package because it takes into account all variable and fixed costs, while the variable costing method resulted in a production cost of IDR 12,832.20 per package. The break-even point (BEP) for sales revenue was IDR 400,812.00, with a production volume of 2,004.06 grams (23 packages of JATAM chips). The sensitivity of JATAM chips production is seen in the 7% increase in production costs, which resulted in an increase in the BEP for sales revenue to IDR 546,694.00, and an increase in the BEP for production volume to 2,733.47 grams (32 packages of JATAM chips). JATAM MSMEs are advised to use the full costing method in determining the cost of goods manufactured, so that all production cost components can be fully and accurately accommodated. Furthermore, it is important for MSMEs to periodically calculate the break-even point and conduct sensitivity analysis to anticipate cost changes that could impact business viability.

Runoff and Sediment Yield Analysis at Ariqua Watershed, Tekeze Basin, Ethiopia: An Approach for Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) Model

Meresa Weleslasie — 2026-01-19

Ethiopia’s main issues are the degradation of land and water resources. SWAT2012, a physically based watershed model, was used to this work to analyze runoff and sediment yield analysis in the Ariqua watershed. Estimating the runoff, analyzing the sediment yield, and prioritize the most erodible sub- watersheds were the main objectives of this research. A 30 x 30 m DEM (Digital Elevation Model), a soil map, and a land use map were utilized to set up the model for simulation. The daily recorded weather data from 1991 to 2015 were used as input to the model. For the SWAT simulation, daily stream flow and sediment data from 2001 to 2015 were used. Both automated and manual calibration methods were used to calibrate the model. Calibration took place throughout the frist sixyears (2006-2011), where as validation was place during the remaining years (2012-2015). To assess the model’s performance, sensitivity analysis, model calibration, and validation were also carried out. Thirteen sensitive parameters were identified for flow of which runoff curve number for SCS moisture condition (CN2) was the most sensitive one and ten sensitive parameters were identified for sediment of which soil erodibility factor (USLE_K) was the most sensitive. Model calibration and validation were assessed using Nash Sutcliffe (ENS) and the coefficient of determination (R²). Both showed a good model performance agreement (model of fitness) between the simulated and measured monthly flow and sediment yield. The 15-years average observed and simulated stream flow created according the model prediction result, was 137 m³/s and 124 m³/s, respectively, while the sediment yield was 12.54 ton/ha/yr and 13.92 ton/ha/yr. Sub-watersheds (SWT-23) and (SWT-20) produced high stream flow rates of 383.5 m³/s and 287.3 m³/s, respectively, out of the 23 sub-watersheds.