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Article Processing Charges (APCs)

The Journal of Sustainable Technology in Agriculture (JOSTA) is committed to maintaining high standards of scholarly publishing while ensuring equitable access to authors and readers worldwide. To balance inclusivity with the practical requirements of timely publication, JOSTA adopts a two-tier publication system.

Standard publication route (No APC)

• Fee: No charges for Indian authors as well as International authors.

• Timeline: For accepted manuscripts, standard publication takes an average of 60 days from submission to online publication. This is an average, not a guaranteed deadline; timing depends on editorial assessment, reviewer availability, author revisions and production.

• Process: Submissions follow the journal’s regular peer review workflow and are considered in the order received.

• Eligibility: Available to all authors, irrespective of affiliation, funding status, or geographical location.

This route ensures that high-quality research remains freely accessible without financial barriers to authors.

Fast-track publication route

JOSTA offers a fee-free standard publication route and an optional fast-track route for eligible manuscripts. Fast-track processing prioritizes editorial handling, peer review and, if accepted, online publication. Acceptance is subject to editorial board assessment and peer review; fast track does not ensure acceptance.

What fast track means

JOSTA is currently receiving a high volume of submissions. Fast track is an optional paid route that gives eligible manuscripts priority in the processing queue after they pass initial editorial screening. It prioritizes reviewer invitations and follow-up, editorial handling and, after acceptance, copyediting, typesetting and online publication. The standard route remains free of APCs.

Fast track pays for priority processing, not acceptance. The editorial board and reviewers assess manuscripts using the same double-blind peer-review process and quality standards as the standard route. Revisions or rejection may still be required, and reviewer availability and author response times can affect the schedule.

• Fee:

  • ₹1,500 for Indian authors
  • US$25 for International authors

• Timeline: For accepted manuscripts, fast-track processing targets an average of 30 days from fast-track confirmation to online publication. This is an average, not a guaranteed deadline; timing depends on editorial assessment, reviewer availability and author revisions. Initial screening before fast-track confirmation is additional to this period.

• Features:

  • Priority editorial and administrative handling
  • Expedited peer review through a dedicated reviewer pool
  • Accelerated copyediting, typesetting, and online release

• Conditions:

  • Manuscripts must pass the initial editorial screening (desk review) before being considered for fast track.
  • A limited number of fast-track slots are available for each issue to preserve review quality and editorial oversight.
  • Fast-track processing does not ensure acceptance. Acceptance is subject to assessment by the editorial board and reviewers, with the same peer-review and editorial standards as standard submissions.
  • If, for reasons attributable to the journal, the fast track timeline cannot be met, the APC will be refunded in full.

Editorial integrity and transparency

• Authors must select their preferred route (standard or fast track) at the time of submission.
• The choice of route has no bearing on editorial decisions, which remain solely grounded in the scholarly merit, originality, and relevance of the manuscript.
• APCs cover only the cost of accelerated processing; they do not influence acceptance outcomes.
• Waivers or partial reductions in fast track APCs may be considered, upon request, for early-career researchers or authors from under developed countries.

Commitment to ethical publishing

JOSTA reaffirms its commitment to maintaining fairness, transparency, and academic rigor across all stages of the publication process. Both routes—standard and fast track—adhere to the same principles of double-blind peer review, editorial independence, and international ethical standards in scholarly publishing.