THE ROLE OF CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE PRACTICES AND ADOPTION FACTORS IN ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION: EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJIREV.826053Keywords:
Access To ICT, CSA Practices, Farmer’s Acceptability, Sustainable Agriculture Production, TrialabilityAbstract
Climate change continues to undermine agriculture resilience, as achieving sustainable agriculture production remains priority in Malaysia. This examines the determinants of climate smart agriculture (CSA) adoption among Malaysian agriculture producers and evaluates its contribution to sustainable agriculture production. A conceptual framework has developed by incorporating key enabling factors including farmer’s acceptability, trialability and access to ICT as predictors in CSA adoption for sustainable agriculture production. With a quantitative approach data were collected from 409 agriculture producers across multiple Malaysian states and analysed using SmartPLS 4.1. The measurement model demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity. Structural model results reveal that farmer’s acceptability, trialability shown insignificant influence and access to ICT significant influence on sustainable agriculture production respectively. Furthermore, CSA adoption as mediator employs a significant influence on sustainable agriculture production. The findings highlight the critical role of resources and accessibility in promoting CSA practices. This study delivers empirical evidence to inform policymakers, stakeholders and agriculture producers in strengthening support mechanisms to accelerate CSA practices and enhance sustainable agriculture production in Malaysia aligned with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Ensuring Sustainable Production and Consumption).
Downloads
References
Ab Samat, N. H., A. R. Saili, Z. Yusop, F. Abdul Fatah, and A. S. A. Aziz. 2022. "Factors affecting selection of rice among the consumer in Shah Alam, Selangor." In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 1059, no. 1, p. 012005. IOP Publishing.
Adnan, Nadia, Shahrina Md Nordin, Imran Rahman, and Amir Noor. 2017. "The impacts and visions of the green fertilizer technologies (GFT) Adoption behaviour among Malaysian paddy farmers." World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development 14, no. 4 : 336-354.
Agyekum, T. P., Antwi‐Agyei, P., Dougill, A. J., & Stringer, L. C. (2024). Benefits and barriers to the adoption of climate‐smart agriculture practices in West Africa: A systematic review. Climate Resilience and Sustainability, 3(3), e279. https://doi.org/10.1002/cli2.79
Ali, Muhammad, Norsida Man, Melissa Muharam Farrah, and Siti Zobidah Omar. 2020. "Factors influencing behavioral intention of farmers to use ICTs for agricultural risk management in Malaysia." Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research 33, no. 2 : 295.
Aliyu, U. S., Cavusoglu, B., Hassanie, S., Abba, S. I., Sammen, S. S., & Kisi, O. (2024). Food, energy, and water security sustainability; an asymmetric approach for achieving sustainable development goals. Discover Sustainability, 5(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00557-z
Atta-Aidoo, Jonathan, Philip Antwi-Agyei, Andrew John Dougill, Christopher Elaigwu Ogbanje, Edmund Kyei Akoto-Danso, and Samuel Eze. 2022. "Adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices by smallholder farmers in rural Ghana: An application of the theory of planned behavior." PLoS Climate 1, no. 10 : e0000082.
Autio, A., Johansson, T., Motaroki, L., Minoia, P., & Pellikka, P. (2021). Constraints for adopting climate-smart agricultural practices among smallholder farmers in Southeast Kenya. Agricultural Systems, 194, 103284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103284
Aziz, Mohd Amar, Noor Hadzlida Ayob, Nor Azira Ayob, Yarina Ahmad, and Kamaruddin Abdulsomad. 2024. "Factors influencing farmer adoption of climate-smart agriculture technologies: Evidence from Malaysia." Human Technology 20, no. 1: 70-92.
Begna, T., & Wakweya, R. B. (2025). Climate‐Smart Agriculture: Effect of Climate Change on Food Security and Its Mitigation Strategies. International Journal of Agronomy, 2025(1), 9972955.
Belay, Abrham, Christopher Oludhe, Alisher Mirzabaev, John W. Recha, Zerihun Berhane, Philip M. Osano, Teferi Demissie, Lydia A. Olaka, and Dawit Solomon. 2022. "Knowledge of climate change and adaptation by smallholder farmers: evidence from southern Ethiopia." Heliyon 8, no. 12.
Calo, A., & De Master, K. T. (2016). After the incubator: Factors impeding land access along the path from farmworker to proprietor. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 6(2), 111-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2016.062.018
Cassani, Lucía, and Andrea Gomez-Zavaglia. "Sustainable food systems in fruits and vegetables food supply chains." Frontiers in nutrition 9 (2022): 829061.
Castellini, Greta, Sara Romanò, Valentina Maria Merlino, Filippo Barbera, Chiara Costamagna, Filippo Brun, and Guendalina Graffigna. 2025. "Determinants of consumer and farmer acceptance of new production technologies: A systematic review." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 9: 1557974.
Chandio, Abbas Ali, Narayan Sethi, Devi Prasad Dash, and Muhammad Usman. 2022. "Towards sustainable food production: what role ICT and technological development can play for cereal production in Asian–7 countries?" Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 202: 107368.
Dardak, Rozhan Abu. "Overview of agricultural trade in Malaysia.2020. " The FFTC Journal of Agricultural Policy. Special issue: Plans and Experiences to Improve Agricultural Trade in the Asia Pacific Region: 60-68.
Davis, K., Gammelgaard, J., Preissing, J., Gilbert, R., & Ngwenya, H. (2021). Investing in farmers: Agriculture human capital investment strategies (Vol. 4). Food & Agriculture Org. https://doi.org/10.104060/cb7134en
De Wrachien, Daniele, Bart Schultz, and Mudlagiri B. Goli. 2021. "Impacts of population growth and climate change on food production and irrigation and drainage needs: A world‐wide view." Irrigation and Drainage 70, no. 5: 981-995.
Dorairaj, Deivaseeno, and Nisha T. Govender. 2023. "Rice and paddy industry in Malaysia: Governance and policies, research trends, technology adoption and resilience." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 7: 1093605.
Duang-Ek-Anong, Somsit, Soonthorn Pibulcharoensit, and Thanawan Phongsatha. 2019. "Technology readiness for Internet of Things (IoT) adoption in smart farming in Thailand." Int. J. Simul. Syst. Sci. Technol 20: 1-6.
Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
Feng, X., & Zailani, S. (2025). The antecedents of the willingness to adopt and pay for climate-smart agricultural technology among cooperatives in China. Sustainability, 17(1), 19.https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010019
Firdaus, R. R., Leong Tan, M., Rahmat, S. R., & Senevi Gunaratne, M. (2020). Paddy, rice and food security in Malaysia: A review of climate change impacts. Cogent Social Sciences, 6(1), 1818373.
Gemtou, Marilena, Konstantina Kakkavou, Evangelos Anastasiou, Spyros Fountas, Soren Marcus Pedersen, Gohar Isakhanyan, Kassa Tarekegn Erekalo, and Serafin Pazos-Vidal. 2024. "Farmers’ transition to climate-smart agriculture: A systematic review of the decision-making factors affecting adoption." Sustainability 16, no. 7 : 2828.
Hair Jr, J. F., Matthews, L. M., Matthews, R. L., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). PLS-SEM or CB-SEM: updated guidelines on which method to use. International Journal of Multivariate Data Analysis, 1(2), 107-123.
Hair Jr, Joe F., Matt C. Howard, and Christian Nitzl. 2020. "Assessing measurement model quality in PLS-SEM using confirmatory composite analysis." Journal of business research 109 : 101-110.
Hasan, Md Atik, Mahinur Begum Mimi, Liton Chandra Voumik, Miguel Angel Esquivias, and Mamunur Rashid. 2023. "Investigating the interplay of ICT and agricultural inputs on sustainable agricultural production: an ARDL approach." Journal of Human, Earth, and Future 4, no. 4: 375-390.
Hedden, Steve, Barry Hughes, Dale Scott Rothman, Alanna J. Markle, and Joel Maweni. 2021. "Ending hunger in Africa: The elimination of hunger and food insecurity on the African continent by 2025-conditions for success." Available at SSRN 3941433.
Hoek, Annet C., Shirin Malekpour, Rob Raven, Eli Court, and Emily Byrne. 2021. "Towards environmentally sustainable food systems: decision-making factors in sustainable food production and consumption." Sustainable Production and Consumption 26 : 610-626.
Karimi, Hamid, and Pouria Ataei. 2024. "An analysis of the perceived effectiveness and upscaling potential of climate-smart agriculture interventions in the Sistan Plain, Iran." Journal of Cleaner Production 460: 142582.
Kassa, Bamlaku Ayenew, and Abera Tilahun Abdi. 2022. "Factors influencing the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practice by small-scale farming households in Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia." Sage Open 12, no. 3 : 21582440221121604.
Katkar, Tejasvini Rahul, Bhavana Santosh Pansare, S. Bathrinath, S. Selvakanmani, Komal Dhanraj Deshmukh, and Shripad Joshi. 2026. "Climate-smart agriculture: Leveraging precision-farming technologies for sustainable food security." In Computational Techniques in Precision Agriculture, pp. 161-172. CRC Press.
Khan, Nawab, Ram L. Ray, Hazem S. Kassem, Sajjad Hussain, Shemei Zhang, Muhammad Khayyam, Muhammad Ihtisham, and Simplice A. Asongu. 2021. "Potential role of technology innovation in transformation of sustainable food systems: A review." Agriculture 11, no. 10: 984.
Khan, Nuzhat, Mohamad Anuar Kamaruddin, Usman Ullah Sheikh, Muhammad Paend Bakht, and Mohd Norzali Haji Mohd. 2024. "Climate-smart agriculture: a path to sustainable food production." Journal of Natural Science Review 2, no. Special. Issue : 130-147.
Kirungi, Diana, Brian Senyange, Joshua Wesana, Haroon Sseguya, Xavier Gellynck, and Hans De Steur. 2023."Entrepreneurial and attitudinal determinants for adoption of Climate-smart Agriculture technologies in Uganda." Cogent Food & Agriculture 9, no. 2 : 2282236.
Kumar, Lukeshwar. 2024. "The role of agriculture in economic development." Journal of Environmental Agriculture and Agroecosystem Management 1, no. 1: 62-68.
Kwapong, Nana Afranaa, Stephen Whitfield, Jane Ambuko, Daniel Adu Ankrah, and Frans Swanepoel. 2024. "Using participatory videos in understanding farmers experiences with climate smart agricultural practices: reflections from Ghana." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 7: 1282993.
Liu, Wei, Xue-Feng Shao, Chia-Huei Wu, and Ping Qiao. 2021. "A systematic literature review on applications of information and communication technologies and blockchain technologies for precision agriculture development." Journal of Cleaner Production 298 : 126763.
Ma, W., & Rahut, D. B. (2024). Climate-smart agriculture: adoption, impacts, and implications for sustainable development. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 29(5), 44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-024-10139-z
Maspan, R., & Halimoon, N. (2024). Adoption of Malaysia Good Agricultural Practices (Mygap) by Crop Producers in Peninsular Malaysia. Available at SSRN 4743722. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4743722
Masud, M. M., Akhtar, R., Al Mamun, A., Uddin, M. S., Siyu, L., & Yang, Q. (2022). Modelling the sustainable agriculture management adaptation practices: Using adaptive capacity as a mediator. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, 963465.
Mekonnen, A. B. 2024. "Adoption of Climate-smart Agricultural Practices Among Smallholder Farmers and Implications for Climate Change Adaptation in Southern Ethiopia (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi)." PhD diss., Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi.
Mensah, H. (2020). Climate change resilience: lessons from local climate-smart agricultural practices in Ghana. Energy, Ecology and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40974-020-00181-3
Mgomezulu, W. R., Edriss, A. K., Machira, K., Pangapanga-Phiri, I., Chitete, M., Mambosasa, M., ... & Mnthambala, F. (2024). Understanding spillover effects of sustained adoption of sustainable agricultural practices on household resilience to food shocks: Evidence from Malawi’s sustainable food systems program. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 16, 101099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101099
Mohamad, Mafuzah, and Jady Hassim. 2023. "Malaysian Dependency on Foreign Workforce: The Economic Implication Post Covid-19." European Proceedings of Finance and Economics.
Moonga, Arthur, Andrew Shepherd, and Lucia da Corta. 2025. "Financial Inclusion and CSA Adoption-Enhancing the Resilience of Smallholder Farmers to Climate Change in Zambia."
Movilla-Pateiro, L., Mahou-Lago, X. M., Doval, M. I., & Simal-Gandara, J. (2021). Toward a sustainable metric and indicators for the goal of sustainability in agricultural and food production. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 61(7), 1108-1129. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2020.1754161
Mpogole, Hosea. 2025. "Navigating the nexus between agricultural transformation, food security, and climate change in rural development in Tanzania." Rural Planning Journal 1 : 1-14.
Mutea, E., Rist, S., & Jacobi, J. (2020). Applying the theory of access to food security among smallholder family farmers around North-West Mount Kenya. Sustainability, 12(5), 1751. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051751
Ng, T. H., Lim, Y. S., Lye, C. T., Amran, A., & Tay, M. J. (2025). Understanding the challenges of community supported agriculture in Malaysia: farmers’ perspectives. Applied Economics Letters, 32(20), 3009-3013. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2024.2360650
Nguyen, Hang Thi Thuy, Thi Quynh Anh Le, Mai Chiem Tuyen, and Pham Xuan Hung. 2025. "A review of climate-smart agriculture in Asia: Critical achievements, key challenges, and potential prospects." Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics (JARTS) 126, no. 1 : 25-42.
Niggli, Urs, Martijn Sonnevelt, and Susanne Kummer. 2023. "Pathways to advance agroecology for a successful transformation to sustainable food systems." Science and innovations for food systems transformation : 341-359.
Nyang'au, Jared O., Jema H. Mohamed, Nelson Mango, Clifton Makate, and Alex N. Wangeci. 2021. "Smallholder farmers’ perception of climate change and adoption of climate smart agriculture practices in Masaba South Sub-county, Kisii, Kenya." Heliyon 7, no. 4.
Obi, Ajuruchukwu, and Okuhle Maya. 2021. "Innovative climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices in the smallholder farming system of South Africa." Sustainability 13, no. 12 : 6848.
Odeyemi, Olubukola Motunrayo, Lisa Kitinoja, Neeru Dubey, Solange Musanase, and Gurbinder Singh Gill. 2022. "Preliminary study on improved postharvest practices for tomato loss reduction in Nigeria, Rwanda and India." African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development 14, no. 6 : 1500-1505.
Ong, Ying Qian, Suzana Shahar, Hasnah Haron, Nurul Fatin Malek Rivan, Hamdan Mohamad, Musaalbakri Abdul Manan, Wan Zunairah Wan Ibadullah et al. 2025. "Strengthening salt reduction policy for Malaysia through proposed maximum salt targets of selected processed food groups." Scientific Reports15, no. 1 : 17385.
Panyasit, Kamoltip, Montri Singhavara, Jenasama Srihirun, Supreeya Wangsathian, and Sakkarin Nonthapot. 2024. "A study to assess the readiness of rice farmers to use agricultural technology for production in Nong Khai Province, Thailand." Int. J. Innov. Res. Sci. Stud 7: 607-617.
Pawlak, Karolina, and Małgorzata Kołodziejczak. 2020. "The role of agriculture in ensuring food security in developing countries: Considerations in the context of the problem of sustainable food production." Sustainability 12, no. 13: 5488.
Peluso, N. L., & Ribot, J. (2020). Postscript: A theory of access revisited. Society & Natural Resources, 33(2), 300-306.
Qange, S., Mdoda, L., Nontu, Y., Mabitsela, M. M., & Gidi, L. S. (2025). Evaluating the impact of adopting conservation agriculture on farm returns of smallholder vegetable farmers in the Eastern Cape Province: implication for extension services. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1605561.
Ramborun, Vagish, S. Facknath, and B. Lalljee. 2020. "Moving toward sustainable agriculture through a better understanding of farmer perceptions and attitudes to cope with climate change." The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension26, no. 1: 37-57.
Raza, A.; Tong, G.; Sikandar, F.; Erokhin, V.; Tong, Z. Financial literacy and credit accessibility of rice farmers in Pakistan: Analysis for Central Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions. Sustainability 2023, 15, 2963.
Renzaho, A., Abdulai, R., Rahaman, K. S., Das, S. K., Noor, R., Salami, B., & Chitekwe, S. (2025). The impact of sustainable organic agriculture on food security in sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed methods systematic review with meta-analysis. Agriculture & Food Security, 14(1), 1-22.
Rust, N. A., Stankovics, P., Jarvis, R. M., Morris-Trainor, Z., de Vries, J. R., Ingram, J., ... & Reed, M. S. (2022). Have farmers had enough of experts? Environmental management, 69(1), 31-44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-021-01546-y
Selvam, Avines Panneer, and Safaa Najah Saud Al-Humairi. 2023. "The impact of iot and sensor integration on real-time weather monitoring systems: A systematic review."
Senyange, Brian. "Farmer's entrepreneurial mindset and the intention to adopt climate-smart agriculture: the case of coffee farmers in greter Luwero, Uganda." PhD diss., Ghent University, 2022.
Simwinga, G. M., Shemi, A. P., & Moyo, P. (2024). Integrating ICT Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture: Addressing Food Security in the Face of Climate Change. Zambia ICT Journal, 8(1), 20-23.
Tan, Mohd Zulhelmi Syafuddin, Ahmad Naqiyuddin Bakar, and Yarina Ahmad. 2024. "Malaysian Government's Unified Approach to Address National Food Security." Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal 9, no. SI22 : 383-388.
Tariq, Zeeshan, Au Yong Hue Nee, and Abdelhak Senadjki. 2026. "Factors affecting the adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices for sustainable food production in Malaysia." In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 1592, no. 1, p. 012016. IOP Publishing.
Tay, M. J., Ng, T. H., & Lim, Y. S. (2024). Fostering sustainable agriculture: An exploration of localised food systems through community supported agriculture. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 22, 100385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2024.100385
Teklewold, H., & Mekonnen, A. (2020). Weather at different growth stages, multiple practices and risk exposures: panel data evidence from Ethiopia. Climate Change Economics, 11(02), 2050009.
Thottadi, B. P., & Singh, S. P. (2024). Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adaptation, adaptation determinants and extension services synergies: a systematic review. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 29(3), 22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-024-10113-9
Valizadeh, Naser, Sara Jalilian, Zeynab Hallaj, Samira Esfandyari Bayat, Dariush Hayati, Khadijeh Bazrafkan, Nazanin Kianmehr, and Morteza Akbari. 2023. "Encouraging adoption of green manure technology to produce clean rice product." Scientific reports 13, no. 1 : 8690.
Waje, Samuel Semma, Berhanu Kuma Shano, Solomon Zena Walelign, and Workineh Asmare Kassie. 2024. "The effect of agricultural information provision on smallholders’ technology adoption and yield: experimental evidence from Ethiopia." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 8 : 1421442.
Wang, Z., Dai, Y., Yang, L., & Yu, Z. (2025). Barriers to Climate-Smart Agriculture Adoption in Northeast China’s Black Soil Region: Insights from a Multidimensional Framework. Agriculture, 15(21), 2236. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15212236
Yusoff, Rahmawati Mohd, Sharifah Zubaidah Syed Abdul Kader, Azhani Arshad, Akmal Hidayah Halim, Mohd Rilizam Rosli, and Siti Mahfudzoh Mohd Hafiz. 2025. "A Strategic Proposal for Enhancing Malaysia's Economy through National Food Security Initiatives." Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal 10, no. SI28 : 149-154.
Zec Vojinović, Melita, Ana Čehić Marić, and Milan Oplanić. 2025. "Factors influencing farmers' adoption and willingness to accept sustainable production practices in Istria County, Croatia." Journal of Central European Agriculture 26, no. 2 : 495-509.
Zheng, Hongyun, Wanglin Ma, and Quan He. 2024. "Climate-smart agricultural practices for enhanced farm productivity, income, resilience, and greenhouse gas mitigation: a comprehensive review." Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 29, no. 4 : 28.
Zulqarnain, Norsida Man, Juwaidah Sharifuddin, Muhammad Roslan, and Salim Hassan. 2020. "Factors influencing attitude towards technology adoption among permanent food production park (PFPP) program participants in west Malaysia." Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 10, no. 20 : 89-97. https://doi.org/10.17265/2161-6264/2020.02.004
