Data-Driven Innovations and Sustainability of Food Security: Can Asymmetric Information Be Blamed for Food Insecurity in Africa?
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript by AGUNYAI and OJAKOROTU investigates how digital agriculture, particularly through the use of the internet and mobile phones, enhances food accessibility and utilization in Africa, which are critical to achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). Despite the documented success of digital tools in boosting food production, their role in improving access to and utilization of food has been underexplored. The study provides insights into the potential of digital technologies to address these challenges and offers strategies for stakeholders to leverage these tools to promote food security in Africa. Before accepting for publication, authors need to do major revision; below are my comments to address:
General comments:
1. The manuscript does not conform to the journal’s required formatting template. Authors should ensure that all sections align with the journal's guidelines. Please download the required Word format template and use it to reformat your manuscript
2. The referencing style used in the manuscript is different from the journal’s required format; authors should consider using Vancouver referencing style
3. The paper’s section should be numbered and arranged according to the journal-recommended structure
4. “In Kenya, despite the prolific access to the internet and mobile phones, Mustiya (2016) reports that about 100 million people are still highly food insecure and that the situation may worsen, without speedy governmental intervention”. In this phrase, does it mean Kenya's population is over 100 million, please double-check and provide evidence
5. Figure 1: The caption should be written below the figure
6. Figure 1: What do the numbers on the right side represent?
7. The manuscript lacks an ethics statement or conflict disclosure, acknowledgements, funding, and author contribution sections, which are required by the journal. Please include this section as per the guidelines
8. More information regarding criteria used to select different stages of data collection must be added to the MS
9. The manuscript language should be improved; it is recommended to have a native English speaker review the manuscript before submission
Comments on the Quality of English Language
Must be improved
Author Response
- The manuscript does not conform to the journal’s required formatting template. Authors should ensure that all sections align with the journal's guidelines. Please download the required Word format template and use it to reformat your manuscript.
RESPONSE: The journal guidelines have now been followed and use in the writing of the paper.
- The referencing style used in the manuscript is different from the journal’s required format; authors should consider using Vancouver referencing style
RESPONSE: The referencing style has been utilized (See the paper)
- The paper’s section should be numbered and arranged according to the journal-recommended structure
RESPONSE: This too has been corrected as the heading of each section is now numbered.
- “In Kenya, despite the prolific access to the internet and mobile phones, Mustiya (2016) reports that about 100 million people are still highly food insecure and that the situation may worsen, without speedy governmental intervention”. In this phrase, does it mean Kenya's population is over 100 million, please double-check and provide evidence
RESPONSE : It was an oversight, it was supposed to be 1 million, I guess is typo error. (See line 14 of the first paragraph on page 2 of the paper).
- Figure 1: The caption should be written below the figure
RESPONSE: Corrected (See the figure on page 2 of the paper)
- Figure 1: What do the numbers on the right side represent?
RESPONSE: They represent the value or rate of hunger and food insecurity of the selected countries
- The manuscript lacks an ethics statement or conflict disclosure, acknowledgements, funding, and author contribution sections, which are required by the journal. Please include this section as per the guidelines
RESPONSE: This has been inserted before the reference list section (See page 23 of the paper).
- More information regarding criteria used to select different stages of data collection must be added to the MS
RESPONSE: This specific criterion has been inserted and well explained in the body of the manuscript (See pages 12-14 of the paper).
- The manuscript language should be improved; it is recommended to have a native English speaker review the manuscript before submission
RESPONSE: The paper has been thoroughly subjected to English language editing.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe present manuscript is based on a good idea; however, several flaws require addressing before it can be accepted.
The manuscript is written in just text without presenting data in tables and figures, making it generic and difficult to follow the information.
As the manuscrip is about food security, crucial information regarding food waste, poor access to food, people's income, poor food chain, and such important problems must be added.
Present some examples from african countries where such a system is being used to cope with the lack of a precise system to control the flow of correct information.
The introduction mentions, "Oversupply or surplus would definitely lead to wastage." Does this imply that African countries are producing surplus food, which is being wasted just because of the flow of poor information?
Information about the existing system, such as the role of the middleman or suppliers, is lacking, which is required to understand better the impact of advanced technology in improving the system.
Regarding asymmetric information, it is mentioned that women have less access to mobile phones. What are the main reasons behind this problem? Moreover, what is the extent of the flow of inaccurate information? What are organizations doing to stop the flow of inaccurate information?
In the whole scenario, what is the government's and related organizations' role in making technology accessible?
The repetition of information persists throughout the manuscript, which should be removed.
The inclusion and exclusion criteria of articles need improvement.
What are the prospects of the present study?
Author Response
COMMENTS 2
- The manuscript is written in just text without presenting data in tables and figures, making it generic and difficult to follow the information.
RESPONSE: Some tables have been inserted into the body of the paper, especially on digital-divide between male and female farmers in Africa (See page 3-4; and 12-14 of the paper).
- As the manuscript is about food security, crucial information regarding food waste, poor access to food, people's income, poor food chain, and such important problems must be added.
RESPONSE: All issues relating to food waste, poor access to food, people’s income and poor food chain have been inserted and explained in the paper (See the last paragraph on page 5 for food waste; see the first paragraph on page 6 for poor access to food; see the second paragraph on page 6 for people’s income; See the third paragraph for poor supply chain on page 6.
- Present some examples from african countries where such a system is being used to cope with the lack of a precise system to control the flow of correct information.
RESPONSE: This correction has been implemented (See the last paragraph on page 11 and the first paragraph on page 12)
- The introduction mentions, "Oversupply or surplus would definitely lead to wastage." Does this imply that African countries are producing surplus food, which is being wasted just because of the flow of poor information?
RESPONSE: The entire statement has been rephrased to avoid oversupply or surplus, as African has not attained the level of over-supplying food to the market (See page 1 of the paper).
- Information about the existing system, such as the role of the middleman or suppliers, is lacking, which is required to understand better the impact of advanced technology in improving the system.
RESPONSE: Information on the activities of middle-men is now on the first and second paragraphs on page 7 of the paper)
- Regarding asymmetric information, it is mentioned that women have less access to mobile phones. What are the main reasons behind this problem? Moreover, what is the extent of the flow of inaccurate information? What are organizations doing to stop the flow of inaccurate information?
RESPONSE: Although, reasons why women have low or poor access to mobile phones were already in the paper before, additional reasons have been provided (See the first paragraph on page 3 and 4 of the paper). Information on the extent of the flow of inaccurate information can be seen on the second paragraph on page 7). Information on what organization is doing to stop it is on item 8 pages 21-22).
- In the whole scenario, what is the government's and related organizations' role in making technology accessible?
RESPONSE: Information on what the government is doing to improve access to technology is on item 8 pages 21-22).
- The repetition of information persists throughout the manuscript, which should be removed.
RESPONSE: All repetitions have ben sieved out through language editing.
- The inclusion and exclusion criteria of articles need improvement.
RESPONSE: Inclusion and exclusion criteria has been inserted and well explained in the body of the manuscript (See pages 12-14 of the paper).
- What are the prospects of the present study?
RESPONSE See page 23 of the paper; this correction has been inserted in the paper.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe objectives of this research are interesting and very significant.
However, the research has several significant shortcomings.
Comment 1: The structure and method of technical preparation of the submitted manuscript is not appropriate. It needs to be done in accordance with the instructions given by the MDPI.
Comment 2: The manuscript was submitted as "Article". In that case, the research plan (experimental research) would have to be clearly defined.
Comment 3: The research methodology, data collection, etc., should be described in detail.
Comment 4: In accordance with the previous two comments, the research results are not clearly presented and discussed in the manuscript.
Comment 5: According to all the above and the way it is currently formatted, the manuscript belongs more in the "Review" category, and not in the "Article" category.
In my opinion, the manuscript would have to be significantly modified and supplemented in order to be further considered for publication.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageAlthough I am not an expert in the English language, I feel that this can be improved in the manuscript.
Author Response
COMMENTS 3
Comment 1: The structure and method of technical preparation of the submitted manuscript is not appropriate. It needs to be done in accordance with the instructions given by the MDPI.
REPONSE: MDPI format has been duly followed. The journal guidelines have now been followed and use in the writing of the paper.
Comment 2: The manuscript was submitted as "Article". In that case, the research plan (experimental research) would have to be clearly defined.
REPONSE: The research plan has been thoroughly explained and defined (See pages 12-14)
Comment 3: The research methodology, data collection, etc., should be described in detail.
REPONSE: The research plan has been thoroughly explained and defined (See pages 12-14)
Comment 4: In accordance with the previous two comments, the research results are not clearly presented and discussed in the manuscript.
REPONSE: The research results have been thoroughly explained and discussed to align with the objectives (See pages 12-14)
Comment 5: According to all the above and the way it is currently formatted, the manuscript belongs more in the "Review" category, and not in the "Article" category.
RESPONSE: This is an article because I have thoroughly explained the research methodology utilized.
In my opinion, the manuscript would have to be significantly modified and supplemented in order to be further considered for publication.
RESPONSE; This has been done.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsAuthors revised the MS and provided further details. However, the issue with references still needs to be addressed. Therefore, I can recommend the MS for publication after revision.
Author Response
REVIEWER 1:
Authors revised the MS and provided further details. However, the issue with references () still needs to be addressed. Therefore, I can recommend the MS for publication after revision.
RESPONSE: I have now used the Vancouver referencing style (See pages 24-31).
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe authors have significantly improved the manuscript and addressed the questions and suggestions. This manuscript could be accepted after minor formatting changes, especially tables, in which the three-line table format is suggested.
Author Response
REVIEWER 2:
The authors have significantly improved the manuscript and addressed the questions and suggestions. This manuscript could be accepted after minor formatting changes, especially tables, in which the three-line table format is suggested.
RESPONSE: The table 1 has been formatted to three-line format, the formatting of table 2 would be difficult, because there are about 7 items (rows) and 4 items (columns) in it.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsPrevious defects in the manuscript are now significantly reduced.
The following remains - the authors need to make sure that the table names can be listed below the tables.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageAlthough I am not an expert in the English language, I feel that this can be improved in the manuscript.
Author Response
REVIEWER 3
The following remains - the authors need to make sure that the table names can be listed below the tables.
RESPONSE The names of the tables are already listed beneath the tables (See page 4)
Although I am not an expert in the English language, I feel that this can be improved in the manuscript.
RESPONSE: For the second time, the paper has been subjected English language editing with proof attached)
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
