In Rural Areas Internet Connection Problems and Solution Recommendations Experienced in The Process of Using Smart Agriculture Methods in Olive Farming

Abstract

The olive is one of the most important crops grown in the Mediterranean region, both in terms of total surface area and its socioeconomic and environmental impacts. Olive and olive oil are the essential components of the Mediterranean diet and are largely consumed in the world. It is very significant to provide economic and environmental sustainability by better managing scarce natural resources in olive farming. Modern planting systems, mechanization and digitalization are taking place rapidly in olive farming around the world. In Türkiye, olive production mostly is done with traditional methods, and most producers belong to rural communities. The rise of new technologies, such as the Internet of Things, is expected to contribute to the increase of the productivity of agricultural and farming activities by improving yields and reducing cost. Olive fruit fly is the primary pest of olive and causes a significant amount of yield and quality losses. Using early warning systems could accurately determine the spraying times by using climate data in the control of diseases and pests in olive orchards. In this research; at the workshop organized within COMMECT, an EU HORIZON project (Project aims to contribute to a balanced territorial development of the EU's rural areas and their communities by making smart agriculture) the views of 65 selected olive producers on the use of early warning systems, their connection status and the problems experienced were evaluated. As a consequence in this study connection problems and solution recommendations were underlined and recent developments in this area were discussed with cost-effective and environmentally friendly approaches.