Determinants of precision agriculture technology adoption in developing countries: a review

Precision agriculture (PA) technology has proven effective in optimizing yield with minimum inputs and in reducing environmental pollution. In this paper, we aim to investigate factors influencing PA adoption in developing countries at both the farmer (individual) and farm (organizational) levels. Findings from 59 high-ranking journal articles were reviewed to determine factors that facilitate or hinder PA adoption: 63% of studies reported factors at the farm level and 37% at the individual level. At the individual level, factors promoting PA adoption included the technology’s relative advantages, observability, trialability, farmer experience in using technology, innovativeness, risk tolerance, education, and knowledge, whereas farmer age and technology complexity hindered PA adoption. Factors promoting PA adoption at the farm level included farm size, resource availability, perceived need for technology characteristics, technology compatibility, social influence, competitive pressure, and government support. PA adoption should, thus, include both levels; hence, a multi-level set of adoption determinants is presented in this study. The findings not only broaden the research agenda for future PA adoption studies that address gaps in the existing literature but also provide a holistic way for entrepreneurial technology developers and policymakers to understand factors that affect PA adoption. The study, thus, paves the way for further investigations to address the causes of slow progress in adoption of innovative technologies, such as PA, especially in developing countries.