ICT-agriculture research in India: a bibliometric analysis and review

Purpose Information and communication technologies (ICT) have transformed Indian agriculture by providing innovative solutions to improve productivity, sustainability and market efficiency. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art literature on ICT in Indian agriculture, aiming to stimulate further scholarly inquiry and strengthen both theoretical and practical contributions in the context of a large developing economy. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted on 592 scholarly articles indexed in the Web of Science (2005–2025) to map the knowledge domain, research hotspots and emerging trends in ICT-agriculture studies in Indian context. Findings The analysis revealed a sharp increase in publications over the past five years, reflecting growing academic and policy interest. Prominent research clusters include ICT applications in financial services, agricultural extension, supply chain management and digital marketing, with emerging frontiers in artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and big data analytics. Persistent adoption barriers – such as high costs, low digital literacy and infrastructural deficiencies – remain particularly challenging for smallholder farmers. Research limitations/implications The findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions, including the expansion of rural digital infrastructure, farmer capacity-building initiatives and strengthened public–private partnerships, to accelerate ICT integration in agriculture. By synthesizing the intellectual structure of the field, this study offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers and practitioners seeking to leverage ICT for a resilient and sustainable agricultural future in India. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic and comprehensive bibliometric review of research on ICT in Indian agriculture. This comprehensive analysis deepens our understanding of the field’s evolution while highlighting its practical applications and future potential.