Big data involves the use of sophisticated analytics to make decisions
based on large-scale data inputs. It is set to transform agriculture,
environmental protection and healthcare in developing countries. This
book critically evaluates the developing big data industry and market in
these countries and gives an overview of the determinants, performances
and impacts.
The book provides a detailed analysis of technology creation, technology
infrastructures and human skills to utilize big data in these countries.
It discusses novel applications and business models involving big data
to overcome healthcare barriers. The book also offers an analysis of big
data's potential to improve environmental monitoring and protection. It
posits that big data is likely to have far-reaching and profound impacts
on the agricultural sector.
A key question addressed is also how gains in agricultural productivity
associated with big data will benefit smallholder farmers relative to
global multinationals in that sector. It also probes big data's roles in
the creation of markets that can improve the welfare of smallholder
farmers. The book gives special consideration to big data-led
transformation of the financial industry and discusses how the
transformation can increase small-holder farmers' access to finance by
changing the way lenders assess creditworthiness of potential borrowers.
It also takes a look at data privacy and security issues facing
smallholder farmers and reviews differences in such issues in
industrialized and developing countries.
The key ideas, concepts and theories presented are explored, illustrated
and contrasted through in-depth case studies of developing world-based
big data companies and deployment and utilization big data in
agriculture, environmental protection and healthcare.
