Scientific Publication Output on ICT in Agriculture: Comparative Performance of India with Other BRICS Countries

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1 Scientific Publication Output on ICT in Agriculture: Comparative Performance of India with Other BRICS Countries G. Rathinasabapathy Deputy Librarian Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai grspathy@gmail.com * * * Abstract. BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) together accounted for about 5.19% of total scientific publications on ICT in Agriculture published during 1972 to 214 (up to ) as per records retrieved from CAB Direct Online database. India held 5 th position in the world with 1.45% while USA held first position with 7.43% followed by Germany with 2.9%, U.K. with 2.7% and China with 1.82%. India held 2 nd position amongst BRICS countries with 27.98% and is behind China with 34.94%. Brazil held 3 rd position with 15.6% followed by Russia with 13.21% and South Africa with 8.52%. India s first publication was indexed in 1974 and its contribution to global publication output during was.43% and it rose to.47% during A steep rise was witnessed during with 1.33% and it has recorded about 26% increase during the period with 3.19% contribution to global research output. During the period , India is the largest contributor from BRICS countries to global publications output on ICT in Agriculture with 3.19% whereas China is in second position with 3.8%. Keywords: BRICS countries, ICT in Agriculture, research papers, CAB Direct Online, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa 1. Introduction Information and communication technologies (ICT) have always mattered in agriculture. ICT is any device, tool, or application that permits the exchange or collection of data through interaction or transmission. ICT is an umbrella term that includes anything ranging from radio to satellite imagery to mobile phones or electronic money transfers. Through ICT, farmers and agricultural producers can more easily access relevant and timely information viz., from the acquisition of quality seeds, credit and insurance, water supply for irrigation, to livestock care and market prices. The role of ICT to enhance food security and support rural livelihoods is increasingly recognized and was officially endorsed at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSISI 23-25). Realising the importance of using ICT in agriculture, researchers from across the globe are doing a lot of research in this area and publishing their research output in various forms such as journal article, conference paper, bulletin, book, book chapter, etc. In this context, this paper attempts to undertake a quantitative analysis of published literature on ICT in Agriculture with special reference to performance of India with other BRICS countries. 1.1 BRICS Countries BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies viz., Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Asia. The grouping was originally known as BRIC before the inclusion of South Africa in 21. The term BRICS was coined by economist Jim O Neill in his publication, Building Better Global Economic BRICS. The BRICS members are all developing or newly industrialized countries. BRICS countries are distinguished by their large, fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional and global affairs. They are also members of G-2. As of 214, the five BRICS countries represent almost 3 billion people which is about 4% of the world population, with a combined nominal GDP of US $ trillion (2% of world GDP) and an estimated US$ 4 trillion in combined foreign reserves. About 18% of the world economy is represented by the BRICS as of CAB Direct Database CAB Direct is CABI s (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International) electronic platform delivering access to over 1 million abstracts across the applied life sciences. It incorporates two bibliographic databases viz., CAB Abstracts and Global Health. Since CAB Direct Online is a major database which indexes scientific research outputs in the area of agricultural sciences, the database has been used for this study.

2 2. Methodology Data pertaining to publications on ICT in Agriculture have been retrieved from CAB Direct Online database. The keywords computer, ICT, software, DSS and Expert System have been used to retrieve papers published with the title containing any one of the above keyword. The data thus obtained have been analysed with respect to various parameters. 3. Results and Discussion 3.1 Global Scientific Publication Output on ICT in Agriculture The total number of publications indexed by CAB Direct Online during the period (up to ) is 13,553 and the top ten countries based on number of publications are USA (7.43%), Germany (2.9%), UK (2.7%), China (1.82%), India (1.45%), Australia (1.44%), Netherlands (1.27%), Canada (1.25%), France (1.8%) and Italy (1.1%). The number of papers published by the top 1 countries is depicted in Figure Fig.1. Top 1 countries based on number of publications on ICT in Agriculture Preferred areas of research on ICT in Agriculture The records retrieved from CAB Direct Online database revealed that computer software is the most preferred areas of research on ICT in Agriculture with 3,815 records followed by Computer applications with 1,682 records, Computer techniques with 1,46 records, automation with 1,218 records and expert systems with 95 records. The total number of records under the 1 categories is 11,859 which are about 87.5% of total scientific publications. The top 1 preferred areas of research in ICT in Agriculture are listed in Table -1. Table-1. Preferred areas of research on ICT in Agriculture S. No. ICT Area Total Records 1 Computer Software 3,815 2 Computer applications 1,682 2 Computer techniques 1,46 3 Automation 1,218 4 Expert Systems 95 5 Simulation Models Data Banks Automatic Control 45 8 Decision making Surveillance Systems Computer analysis 28

3 3.1.2 Preferred Language for Publication Scientists in the field of ICT in Agriculture prefer English to publish their scientific publications as 9,426 publications are in English which is about 69.55% followed by German with 132 publications. The top 1 languages preferred by scientists for publication of ICT in Agriculture are depicted in Figure Records Fig.2 Top-1 languages preferred by scientists Preferred Medium of Scientific Publications Journal article is the preferred medium of communication for the researchers in the field of ICT in Agriculture since out of 13,553 publications indexed by CAB Direct Online up to about 73.73% are journals articles followed by conference papers with 1,652 papers (12.19%). There were 366 book chapters (2.7%), 116 bulletins (.86%) and 64 books (.47%). Miscellaneous publications are 1, 362 which is about 1.5%. The details are depicted in Figure % % % 2.8% % Preferred Journals by Researchers 2.% 4.% 6.% 8.% 1 Fig.3 Preferred Medium of Scientific Publications Scientists prefer American Society of Agricultural Engineers journal for publishing their research outputs as it has published about 316 papers followed by Computers and Electronics in Agriculture with 182 papers. It is interesting to note that the Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering has published 15 papers and held 4 th position. Though India held 2 nd position among BRICS countries, no Indian journal has come within top 1 journals preferred by scientists for publishing their papers. The top 1 periodicals preferred by scientists to publish their research output on ICT in Agriculture are furnished in Table-2.

4 Table-2. Top 1 Periodicals preferred by Scientists to publish papers on ICT in Agriculture S. No. Title No. of papers 1 American Society of Agricultural Engineers Papers Computers and Electronics in Agriculture Acta Horticulturae Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering 15 5 Journal of Dairy Science 94 6 Transactions of the ASAE 82 7 Journal of Food Engineering 63 8 Applied Engineering in Agriculture 57 9 Computers & Geosciences 56 1 Water Science & Technology Most Productive Authors The study revealed that F.S. Zazueta is the most productive author in this field with 94 papers to his credit which about.69% of global scientific output. He is specialized in applications of information technology to agriculture and affiliated to University of Florida, USA. He is followed by D.W. Sun with 69 papers who is affiliated to National University of Ireland-Dublin. Among the top 1 most productive authors, Dr. V.C. Patil, an Indian has held 9 th position with 22 papers which is about.16% to the global scientific output and 3.13% to BRICS countries total output. Dr. V.C. Patil is affiliated to University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka. The top 1 most productive authors in the field of ICT in Agriculture are furnished in Table-3. Table-3. Most Productive Authors in the field of ICT in Agriculture S. No. No. of papers % of contribution to Global output 1 Zazueta, F.S Sun, D.W Watson, D.G Harisson, T.V Ninomiya, S Xin JianNong Hansen, R Blasco, J Patil, V.C Jones, J.W Publications of BRICS Countries Among BRICS countries, China is the largest producer of publications on ICT in Agriculture with 246 papers (34.94%) followed by India with 197 papers (27.98%), Brazil with 18 papers (15.34%), Russia with 93 papers ( 13.21%) and South Africa with 6 papers (8.53%). The same is depicted in Fig Brazil Russia India China South Africa Fig3. Contribution of BRICS countries

5 3.2.1 Growth of Scientific Publications on ICT in Agriculture in BRICS Countries The study revealed a steady growth trend in terms of quantity of publications from BRICS countries. While the number of papers was only 2 during the year , it was 43 during the period A steep growth noticed during the period with 12 papers and it rose to 215 during the period The total number of publications during the period was 319, the highest number for the past 4 years. The details are furnished in Table-4. Table-4 Growth of Scientific Publications on ICT in Agriculture S. No. Year Brazil Russia India China South BRICS World Africa Total Total , , , * ,698 Total ,553 * up to Contribution of BRICS countries to Global Scientific Output The contribution of BRICS countries to the global scientific publications on ICT in Agriculture is steadily increasing since Though the first record in this area was added during the year 1967 in CAB Direct Online, Russia was the first BRICS country to contribute 2 records in 1973 and it was.72% from BRICS countries (total papers indexed during the year was 279). During the next decade i.e., , contribution from BRICS countries rose to 2.8% (43 papers). While contribution of BRICS countries was 2.39% during , there was a sudden growth of 6.65% during and it rose to 9.1% during the period The contribution of BRICS countries to Global scientific output is depicted in Fig % 8.% 6.% 4.% 2.% 6.65% 2.8% 2.39%.72% Fig.4. Contribution BRICS Countries to Global Scientific Output Subject-wise Performance of BRICS Countries The results of top-1 subject-wise performance of BRICS countries revealed by the CAB Direct Online database are furnished in Table-5. The broad-subject areas are assigned by CAB Direct Online Database base based on certain criteria. Table-5. Subject-wise Performance of BRICS Countries S. No Subject category Information & Documentation Techniques & Methodology Mathematics & Statistics Automation & Control Plant Production Brazil Russia India China South Africa BRICS Total World Total , , , ,

6 3.3 India s Contribution to Global Publication Output This study revealed that the contribution of India in the field of ICT in Agriculture is steadily increasing each and every decade since India s first record was added during During the period , India s contribution among BRICS countries was.43% and it was.47% during the period which was very meagre. There was a three-fold increase i.e. 1.33% during the period and again there was a steep rise i.e. 3.19% during the period which is about 26% increase compared to the previous decade. The same is depicted in Figure % 3.% 2.5% 2.% 1.5% 1.%.5%.43%.47% 1.33% 3.19% Fig.5. India s contribution to Global Research Output during India s Contribution among BRICS Countries Contribution of India to BRICS countries output during the period was nothing and the only country which contributed 2 records was Russia. India started its count with 4 records in 1974 and the total records from India during the period was 9 which was about.34% to global output and 2.93% to BRICS countries contribution. The details of contribution of India among BRICS countries are represented in Figure % 19.6% % Fig.6 India s share to BRICS Countries during India Vs China It is important to note that China started contributing records only during 1977 i.e. four years after India and the total contribution was only 7 records which was.34% to global output and 16.27% to BRICS countries contribution during the period But China s production has increased nearly 6% i.e. from 7 publications to 42 during the period whereas India s growth was from 9 publications to 2 which was about 223%. India was managed to double its publications during the period from 2 to 43 and China was also doubled from 42 to 85 during the same period. But, during the period , India s publications have almost grown 26% from 42 publications to 112 whereas China has recorded only 127% growth i.e. from 85 publications to 18 and the total number of publications of India during this period is 112. Thus, the contribution of India to BRICS during the period is 3.19% while China s contribution is 3.8% only. It is interesting to note that while China s contribution towards BRICS countries during the period was 2.63%, India s contribution was just 1.33%. But within 1 years, India has exceeded China s scientific publications on ICT in Agriculture. The growth of scientific publications on ICT in Agriculture of India and China are depicted in Figure-7.

7 India China Fig-7. Growth of Scientific Publications on ICT in Agriculture in India Vs. China 4. Conclusion India s contribution to global scientific publications on ICI in Agriculture is steadily increasing since the past four decades. It started its innings in 1974 with its first record and its contribution during the period was 9 records which was.43% contribution to global output though there were not even a single publication added during 1978, 1979, 1981 and During the same period, the share of China was 7 publications with.34%. India has increased its publications to 2, 43 and 112 during the periods , and respectively. Its share to global publications output during the period was.47%, 1.33% and 3.19% respectively. It is interesting to note that while China s contribution towards BRICS countries during the period was 2.63%, India s contribution was just 1.33%. But within 1 years, India has exceeded China s scientific publications on ICT in Agriculture and at present the contribution of India to global publications output is 3.19% while China held second position with 3.8% for which the Indian scientists and researchers in the field of ICT in Agriculture need to be appreciated. Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the authorities of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi for providing online access to CAB Direct Database under the NAIP project on Consortium for e-resources in Agriculture since it was very much useful for this study. References 1. Arunachalam, S. and Umrani, K.. Mapping of agriculture research in India: A profile based on CAB abstracts Information Today &Tomorrow, 2, 9-17 (21) 2. Chidambaram, R. Measures of progress in science and technology. Current Science. 88, Fan, S. Et cl. National and International agricultural research and rural poverty: the case of rice research in India and China. Agricultural Economics, 33, (25) 4. Guan, J. And Nan Ma. A Comparative study of research performance in computer science. Scientometrics, 61, (24). 5. Hasan, S.A. and Rajesh Luthra. Comparative performance of India with other BRICS countries in publishing science and engineering research papers. Current Science. 16, (214) 6. Hasan, S.A., Khilmai, S and Lathra, R. Can India overpower China in publishing science and engineering research articles?. Current Science. 13, Kademani, B. S., et al. Scientometric dimensions of nuclear science and technology research in India : a study based on INIS (197-22) database. Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science, 11, (26) 8. Kostoff, R.N. China / USA nanotechnology research output comparison 211 Update. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 79, (212). 9. Stienen, J., Wietse Bruinsma and Frans Neuman. How ICT can make a difference in agricultural livelihoods. The Commonwealth Ministers Reference Book (27)