A Systematic Review of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Agriculture for Evidence-Based Decision Making and Sustainability

Abstract

The aim of this study was to consolidate current information on the utilization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) in the agricultural sector, with a focus on their role in promoting evidence-based policies and practices to enhance agricultural sustainability. Additionally, this review sought to identify the challenges hindering the widespread adoption of GIS and RS applications, particularly in low- and middle-income nations. This study employed the methodology of systematic literature review. The findings indicate that the utilization of GIS technology in the agricultural sector has experienced a notable increase over the past few years. The primary areas of use for GIS that have been identified encompass crop yield estimation, assessment of soil fertility, monitoring of cropping patterns, evaluation of drought conditions, detection and management of pests and crop diseases, implementation of precision agriculture techniques, and management of fertilizer and weed control. GIS technology possesses the capacity to augment the sustainability of agriculture by incorporating the spatial aspect of agricultural practices into agricultural policies. Furthermore, the potential of GIS in facilitating evidence-based decision making is expanding. Given the escalating peril of climate change on agriculture and food security, there exists a heightened imperative to include GIS into policy formulation and decision-making processes to enhance the sustainability of agricultural practices. The findings of this study might be beneficial in informing the development of policies that effectively integrate sustainable and climate-smart practices in agriculture.