PRECISION AGRICULTURE IN HILLY REGIONS: A BIBLIOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF GLOBAL RESEARCH TRENDS
Authors: Namsa Hang Limbu, Dr. Praveen Rizal and Dr. Niranjan Debnath
Namsa Hang Limbu: Department of Economics, SRM University Sikkim, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Dr. Praveen Rizal: Department of Social Sciences, SRM University Sikkim, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Dr. Niranjan Debnath: Department of Social Sciences, SRM University Sikkim, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
ABSTRACT
Mountain farming sustains rural livelihoods but faces challenges from steep terrain, soil erosion, and climate change. Precision Agriculture (PA), using digital tools and remote sensing, offers solutions but remains underexplored in mountain contexts compared to large-scale flatland farming. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of PA research in hilly regions using Web of Science data time span of (2000–2025). The analysis carried out with 42,548 records appeared in search initially and 2111 paper globally on mountain and Precision agriculture has been considered for screening and 490 publications were reviewed and considered for the analysis, since the these were the only article fulfilling the study objective and direction. Results show steady growth peaking in 2021, with Ethiopia and China as leading contributors. Core journals such as Land Degradation & Development and Remote Sensing dominate the field. Keyword analysis reveals three clusters: environmental conservation, technological integration, and socio-economic adoption. However, gaps persist in cost–benefit assessments, adoption studies, and mountain-specific policy frameworks. Overall, PA shows strong potential for sustainable mountain farming, but greater focus on terrain-sensitive, smallholder-centered innovations is needed. To address this gap and to understand the dynamics of PA, the paper the present study conducts a bibliometric analysis of PA related to mountain farming drawing on Web of science data from 2000-2025.
Keywords: Precision Agriculture; Mountain Farming; Bibliometric Analysis; Sustainable Agriculture; Remote Sensing; Technological Adoption; Smallholder Farmers; Environmental Conservation; Digital Farming; Climate Change Adaptation