Editorial Responsibilities Policy

Editors of the Journal of Pure and Applied Agriculture (JPAA) are expected to uphold the highest standards of editorial integrity and professionalism. The following responsibilities are to be strictly observed by all members of the editorial board:

Manuscript Evaluation

Editors must evaluate each submitted manuscript based on its academic merit (originality, scientific validity, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope) without regard to the author’s race, gender, institutional affiliation, nationality, or personal beliefs.

Confidentiality

All manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents. Editors must not disclose any information about a manuscript to anyone other than those involved in the publication process (e.g., reviewers, editorial staff, corresponding author).

Editorial Independence

Editors should make decisions on manuscripts independently and must not be influenced by external pressures, including those from the authors, reviewers, sponsors, or publishers.

Conflict of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest whether personal, professional, or financial. Such manuscripts should be reassigned to another editor.

Fair Peer Review Process

Editors must ensure that peer review is conducted fairly, objectively, and in a timely manner. Reviewers should be selected based on their expertise and lack of conflict of interest. Editors must manage manuscripts efficiently and adhere to the journal’s timelines. Unnecessary delays in the editorial or peer review process should be avoided.

Decision Transparency

Editorial decisions must be clearly communicated to authors along with appropriate reviewer comments. All decisions (acceptance, revision, or rejection) must be justified based on scholarly merit.

Handling Misconduct

If an editor suspects or receives an allegation of unethical behavior (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission), it is their responsibility to initiate appropriate actions, including contacting the editorial office, reviewing evidence, and taking corrective measures in line with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.

Publication Quality and Integrity

Editors are responsible for maintaining the scientific quality and ethical integrity of the journal. They should actively contribute to the development of the journal’s editorial policies and uphold academic publishing standards. Therefore, editors are encouraged to stay updated on developments in scholarly publishing, peer review, and publication ethics. Participation in training and development activities is recommended.