A scientifically and ecologically robust system paradigm is emerging as digital agriculture services where sensors and actuators have a vital role in monitoring and management of farming practices. Generally, farm management decisions are taken by farmers based on cropland growing conditions, previous experience, and desired outcomes. These decisions can be supplemented with the recommendations derived from sensor-based farm management information systems. This work investigates the economic and environmental performance of conventional and ecological farming methods with the help of a techno-economic analysis of digital agriculture technologies in the Upper Gangetic Plains in North India. It attempts to describe the expected attributes that farmers value when it comes to digital agriculture services based on the empirical data obtained from technology developers, field-trainers, and participating farmers. The distinctive attributes of the services are decided after analyzing the collected data. Information sharing with the farmers about their land holdings, cultivated crops, irrigation facilities, used fertilizers, input cost, net income, use of digital technologies, farming apps, socioeconomic background, and their educational qualification was found helpful in improving their productivity and profitability. The conducted assessment contributed to the generalized management of agroecological resources toward highly optimized, intelligent, individualized, and anticipatory farm management practices.

A techno-economic analysis of digital agriculture services: an ecological approach toward green growth

The world is moving towards an increasingly digitalized society where computer capacity and storage capabilities are setting new records every day. Even in the agriculture business, there has been a great development of digital systems that control the machines, as well as measuring, weighing and collecting information about the production on the farm. The association of accounting and auditing (FAR) predicts that accounting services will be digitized and automated by the year 2025 and therefore there is a need to focus on developing functional digital systems for this and work more with other tasks like counselling. As the work with accountings are digitized and new companies are entering the market of accounting services, it becomes more and more competition for customers, which enables customers to have more choice and can demand that the accounting companies meet more personal values for the customer. Therefore, accounting firms need to think in a customer perspective when developing the future of accounting and advisory services.
This study aims to identify different attributes that farmers value when implementing digital systems for accounting and business management in the agriculture business. The study is done with qualitative method implemented by semi-structural, personal interviews at the home of nine farmers in Gotaland, Sweden. The theoretical model used as a base in this study is built on a conceptualization of value concepts and contains the six dimensions Quality, Efficiency, Social value, Play, Aesthetics and Altruism. The model was chosen because it captures both utilitarian and hedonistic values that customers see in digital systems for accounting and business management.
Findings suggest that farmers value systems that are user-friendly, work properly and fulfill the purpose they are created for. The digital services are expected to have properties that streamline the process of invoice handling and management of the farms operations. The digital systems can help to motivate the farmers and make the daily work more pleasurable by showing the development of different key entities on the farm. During the interviews, some respondents expressed the importance that the information stored in the digital systems is kept protected from copying and theft because both economic and non-economic values can contain business secrets. Several attributes found in the study are associated with the service delivery and concerns the staff of accounting firms. The farmers saw values in competent, friendly and confident consultants, which build loyalty to the accounting firm. Other attributes that are highly valued by farmers was that the staff at the accounting firm was available when the farmer needs help, is understanding and have knowledge in practical agriculture management.

Tomas Engdahl

Papers

Digital services in the agriculture business