Adopting precision agriculture in Algeria: insights and challenges from the perspective of Algerian agricultural engineers

Precision agriculture represents a transformative approach for enhancing the sustainability and productivity of Algerian agriculture. The application of advanced technologies, including GPS, remote sensing, drones, and data analytics, enables precision agriculture to facilitate more precise resource management, thereby reducing waste and minimizing environmental impacts. The success of precision agriculture is contingent upon a comprehensive grasp of its methodologies. This study examines the awareness and utilization of precision agriculture technologies among Algerian agricultural engineers, who play a pivotal role in the sector’s modernization. A descriptive research design was employed to ensure the reliability of the data, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.834. The content validity was further corroborated through an expert review by a panel of university professors. The findings indicate that while theoretical knowledge of precision agriculture is high among engineers (mainly bachelors in agricultural studies), (with 84.3% of respondents indicating awareness), practical involvement is significantly lower, with only 19.7% of respondents engaged in precision agriculture applications. This discrepancy highlights significant obstacles to the implementation of precision agriculture, including limited access to technology, insufficient training, and inadequate institutional support. The resolution of these impediments could facilitate a greater alignment between theoretical understanding and practical application, thereby accelerating the broader adoption of precision agriculture in Algeria.