INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is changing thanks to "smart farming" techniques made
possible by a combination of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors
Precision agriculture is a way of exploring, and collecting real-time data
mouth for more focused irrigation, low fertilizer cost, yield -Automatic
irrigation systems driven by IoT moisture sensors and weather data are
becoming more and more popular in data-driven irrigation tailored plans
for each field in order to maximize [Link] Advisory Service
are critical for farmers to continue supplying food to a riding global
population. The impacts of advisory services on farms, households and
territories also are being examined. Some studies present the themes of
articles published in specialised advisory journals (Haug, 1999).
Agricultural production includes the production of food for humans
and livestock, in addition to the raw materials needed for the industrial
process.
. Agricultural advisory services are perceived by many actors involved in
rural development as important elements not only in improving farm
performance, but also in strengthening ties between farmers, research,
agricultural education and other actors of the society. Agricultural
advisory services (AAS) have regained importance for policy makers
worldwide and especially in the European Union (EU), because of
increased attention to food production and related innovation processes in
rural areas. (Knierim et al., 2017; Norton and Alwang, 2019; Labarthe and
Laurent, 2013). The agriculture sector of many West African countries is
yet to realize its full production potential in terms of agricultural yield.
(Benin et al., 2011;Nin-Pratt et al., 2011). whereas in Canada, the
government has emphasized its role in fostering innovation,
sustainable farming, enhanced profitability, risk management,
trade, and market development .( Agricultural Institute of Canada, 2018;
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), 2022). Some of the major
opportunities and challenges in improving farmer’s livelihoods , including
new climate smart farming practices ,innovative information and
communication technologies, new methods for managing information
disorder, market transformations, disruptive technologies, health issues,
and the overuse of natural resources. ((Birner et al., 2009; Nettle et al.,
2021)
Motivation
Cassava farmers in Ghana have less access to agricultural
information services from public extension agents and often rely on
information from other farmers and other information sources (Anaglo,
2011). Antwi (2015) reported a large proportion (88%) of cassava farmers
seek agricultural information from fellow farmers. Given the high demand
for agricultural information and the limited capacity of extension services,
a farmer-to-farmer extension approach has been explored by many
underserved cassava farmers. In this study, we use a qualitative case
study approach to understand how cassava farmers who had limited
access to agricultural advisory services from the public extension agents
had managed to up-scale their farming business. Our research question is:
what lessons can be learnt by other cassava farmers from the lived
experience of these farmers to address current challenges of cassava
farming and encourage other smallholder farmers to transition to larger
farm sizes towards commercialization of their farming activities? We
further explore the difference in advisory messages from farmer-to-farmer
and from agricultural extension agents to farmers. Knowing the sources of
information available to farmers and their channel of communication will
enable agricultural program developers to channel interventions targeted
at farmers through the appropriate medium. It is also important for policy
makers to understand the existing information services providers to
ascertain their usefulness in disseminating new technologies. This will
serve as a guide to policy makers in agricultural development to develop
appropriate strategies that could be pursued to ensure farmers’ access to
information.
Method
Qualitative methods have potential to provide deep insight into the
understanding and experiences of individuals.( (Thomas, Nelson, &
Silverman, 2018)
1.0 Domain Specific Research
The agricultural domain has witnessed significant advancements in
technology, particularly in the integration of smart systems. This
paper will give a detailed review to the state of the art in Alexa
integration, software architecture, cloud computing, and web
technologies relevant to agriculture.. This paper will be highlighting
several key technologies, methodologies and tools which are
currently in use.
AI driven Technology will enable farmers to make more
informed decisions based on real-time data. This leads to optimized
used resources such as water, fertilizers and pesticides, reducing
waste and enhancing crop yields.(Dizzy Davidson 2024. Utilizing
technologies such as sensors ,drones robots, precision agriculture
and Internet of Things IOT, smart farming collects and analyses data
to make informed decisions and optimize agricultural
processes(Santosh Kumar Srivastava, Durgesh Srivastava, Korhan
Cengiz, Pramod Gaur 2024)
In nowadays , technology Alexa has become a key part in
agriculture ,and one such technological advancement is the integration of
virtual assistants like Alexa. This paper will review the state or art
regarding the integration of Alexa, Software architecture ,cloud
computing , and web technologies for the Agricultural Advisory service .
The Integration of
1.1 ALEXA INTEGRATION
According to Goar and Vishal kumar artificial intelligence can
help interpret data and provide personalized recommendations,
which aligns with the challenges that farmers face daily in
understanding complex agricultural practices(Goar , Vishal kumar
2022). The farmers can actually utilize voice commands to receive
instant updates on the weather conditions, market prices and pest
management strategies .with the attachment of Alexa, direct
communications with satellites can be made by the farmers
regarding any needed suggestion or information. Alexa is also
capable of entertaining purposes such as music ,radio etc.
(Suchismita Satapathy ,Debesh Mishra, Arturo RealyVasquez Vargas
2022). By the integrating Alexa with IOT devices , farmers can monitor
equipment statuses and receive alerts for maintenance needs or potential
issues.(Smith , Jackson 2021) .The studies showed that through interactive
voice features, farmers could access agricultural best practices, pests
management strategies and sustainable farming techniques(Thompson et
al. 2022). Furthermore, the design methodology emphasized in current
research highlights the significance of local resources and cultural
traditions in developing these systems—allowing technology like Alexa to
foster a deeper connection between agricultural products and their
respective environments(L. Allasio, V. Montrucchio 2012)
Software Architecture is s structured framework that makes
mention of the organization and interaction of the various software
components which is essential and beneficial for the efficiency and
scalability of agricultural technologies. According to (Len Bass, Paul
Clements, Rick Kazman 2013) software architecture is a set of structures
needed to reason about the system ,which comprise elements ,relations
among them, and properties of both . Effective software architecture can
significantly influence system performance
References
1- Naveen Vemuri1, Naresh Thaneeru2, Venkata Manoj Tatikonda3
2023 ( Smart Farming Revolution: Harnessing IoT for Enhanced
Agricultural Yield and Sustainability )
2- Santosh Kumar Srivastava, Durgesh Srivastava, Korhan Cengiz,
Pramod Gaur 2024 (Smart ArgiTech)
3- Suchismita Satapathy ,Debesh Mishra,Arturo RealyVasquez Vargas
2022 in ( Innovation technology, and knowledge Management )
4- Smith , Jackson 2021 in ( The application of Alexa in farm management )
5- Thompson et al. 2022 Alexa for farmer education and training
6- Haug, R. (1999) Some Leading Issues in International Agricultural
Extension, a Literature Review. Journal of Agricultural Education and
Extension.
7- L. Allasio, V. Montrucchio 2012 Connections Between Products and
Contexts. Key Drivers for the Design of a Product
8- Goar , Vishal kumar 2022 The Impact and Transformation of
Artificial Intelligence
9- Anaglo, J. N. (2011). Understanding the influence of livelihood
features on cassava value chains. PhD thesis, University of
Greenwich, UK.
10- Antwi, G. (2015). The influence of agricultural information
sources on the practices and livelihood outcomes of cassava
farmers in Upper West Akim District. PhD thesis, University of
Ghana, Ghana