Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Allied Sciences (JSAS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and follows the principles and best practices set out by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. 

1. Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Submissions must be original. Any use of others’ work must be properly cited or quoted.

  • Authorship Criteria: Only individuals who made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study should be listed as authors.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: All sources of information must be appropriately acknowledged. 

  • Data Accuracy: Data presented must be accurate and verifiable; fabrication or falsification is unethical. 

  • Conflicts of Interest: Disclose all financial or personal relationships that could influence the work. 

  • Multiple/Redundant Publication: Do not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently. 

2. Responsibilities of Editors

  • Fair Play: Manuscripts are evaluated solely on academic merit, without regard to authors’ characteristics or beliefs.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts beyond those involved in the process.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Editors must not handle manuscripts in which they have competing interests. 

  • Decision-Making: Editorial decisions are based on reviewers’ reports and journal policies. 

  • Handling Misconduct: Suspected misconduct is investigated in accordance with COPE guidance. 

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: Treat manuscripts as confidential documents.

  • Objectivity: Provide constructive, unbiased feedback without personal criticism.

  • Promptness: Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Decline reviews where a conflict exists.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Indicate relevant published work not cited by the authors. 

4. Research Misconduct Policy

JSAS considers the following to be forms of research and publication misconduct: plagiarism; data fabrication or falsification; improper authorship; redundant publication; undisclosed conflicts of interest; manipulation of the peer-review process. Allegations will be investigated following COPE flowcharts; proven cases may lead to retraction and notification of relevant institutions.

5. Retraction and Correction Policy

  • Retractions will be issued for articles with significant errors, ethical violations, or evidence of misconduct.

  • Corrections will be issued for minor errors that do not alter the study’s conclusions.

  • All retractions and corrections will be clearly identified and linked to the original article. 

6. Publisher’s Responsibilities

The publisher supports adherence to recognized ethical standards, assists the editorial team in investigations, and helps maintain the integrity and transparency of the scholarly record.