The Global Research Network for Verified Scholars

Agriculture plays a crucial role in sustaining livelihoods worldwide; however, crop diseases remain a significant challenge, often leading to reduced yield and economic loss for farmers. Early identification and effective management of plant diseases are essential but are not always accessible, particularly in rural areas. This paper presents a Smart Farm Assistant System developed using Python, Flask, and PostgreSQL. The system is implemented as a web-based application that provides structured information about crops, common diseases, and their preventive as well as corrective measures. Users can easily search for plant details and obtain relevant guidance through a simple and user-friendly interface. Unlike complex machine learning-based systems, the proposed solution emphasizes accessibility, low cost, and ease of use. The system assists farmers in making informed decisions, reduces dependency on agricultural experts, and promotes efficient farming practices. Furthermore, it provides a foundation for future enhancements such as AI-based disease detection and mobile application integration.

The increasing emphasis on academic publishing as a performance metric has significantly influenced research culture in higher education. In many institutions, publication output is closely associated with recruitment, promotions, and performance evaluation, creating substantial pressure on researchers. This study examines the relationship between academic pressure and unethical research practices, particularly focusing on authorship misuse, ghostwriting, and paper purchasing. A quantitative survey was conducted among 19 participants, including faculty members, postgraduate students, and PhD scholars. The findings reveal that 73.7% of respondents experience pressure to publish research papers either consistently or occasionally. While a majority (84.2%) reported awareness of research ethics and publication guidelines, a significant proportion (78.9%) admitted to observing unethical practices such as paid authorship and paper purchasing.