A review of potential use of geo-information technologies for cotton supply chain management

Abstract

In this paper, we provided an overview of the cotton supply chain management (SCM) and its processes including their inputs/ and outputs. The components of cotton SCM were discussed with their influencing factors. Additionally, we searched relevant literature on the potential use of Geographical Information Technologies (GITs) in cotton supply chain management. According to our findings, there is no study on the utilization of the web to maximize potential of GITs in all components of cotton SCM. GITs are, however, successfully used in intelligent data creation, data management, spatial analysis, agricultural decision support system and partially in supply chain management systems. We found a dire need to integrate applications of GITs in all components of cotton SCM to optimize the use of resources as agriculturalists are utilizing GITs in precision agriculture. Key words: Cotton supply chain management (CSCM), geographic information system (GIS), geo-information technologies (GITs), crop yield estimation, remote sensing (RS), agriculture.