International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development

Smallholder farmers – who comprise the majority of the world's farmers – have begun to benefit from advances in precision agriculture and artificial intelligence, but significant gaps remain in making these technologies accessible and effective for small farms with diverse crops. This paper reviews the current state of precision farming, highlighting its success in large-scale agriculture and the adoption barriers faced by smallholders in developing regions. Key challenges include data scarcity, heterogeneous cropping systems that complicate one-size-fits-all solutions, and infrastructure limitations such as poor internet connectivity and high costs. The literature review synthesizes existing AI applications for smallholders (e.g., mobile apps for crop disease diagnosis) and identifies gaps in research and technology adoption – notably low uptake (often <15% of farmers) despite evidence of potential yield gains. [1] A methodology is proposed to develop low-cost, robust AI tools using strategies like transfer learning, fewshot learning, affordable IoT sensors, and mobile platforms to support decision-making in small farms. A framework is outlined for an inclusive precision agriculture system that can provide real-time advice on irrigation, pest management, and crop planning, tailored to smallholders needs. We discuss expected outcomes such as improved yields and resource efficiency, as well as the societal benefits of empowering smallholders. Finally, we consider potential challenges and limitations – from technical issues (algorithmic accuracy, scalability) to socio-economic factors (user training, trust, and policy support) – and suggest directions for future research to ensure AI-driven precision farming truly benefits small-scale farmers

Shifa Bilal Tamboli, Simeen Phiroj Mulani, Arman Tajuddin Shiakh,"AI-Driven Precision Farming for Smallholder Agriculture: Challenges, Solutions, and Future Directions" International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development, V9(2): Page(2514-2523) Mar-Apr 2026. ISSN: 2581-7175. www.ijsred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.