ADOPTION OF DRONE TECHNOLOGY: A PRELIMINARY STUDY AMONG RICE FARMERS IN KADA, KELANTAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/JISTM.1144010Keywords:
Agricultural Modernisation, Drone Technology, Malaysia Paddy Farming, Social Influence, UTAUTAbstract
Despite increasing government support for precision agriculture, empirical evidence on the determinants of drone technology among Malaysian paddy farmers remains limited. This preliminary study addresses this gap by examines the early-stage drivers of drone technology adoption among paddy farmers in Malaysia's Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) region. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study investigates the role of performance expectancy and social influence in shaping adoption intention. A quantitative survey involving 50 systematically selected farmers were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and chi-square tests. As a pilot study, the research aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the research instrument and generate preliminary evidence for a larger empirical investigation. Results indicate that social influence demonstrated a stronger positive association with adoption intention than performance expectancy (r = 0.57, p < 0.001). Younger farmers (<40 years) and those with larger farm sizes (>5 acres) reported significantly higher adoption intention, suggesting demographic disparities in uptake. This study extends the application of UTAUT to precision agriculture by providing preliminary evidence from smallholder paddy farmers in Malaysia, a context that remains underexplored in the technology adoption literature. The findings suggest that agricultural extension programmes should leverage peer influence and demonstration farms to accelerate drone adoption, particularly among older farmers and those operating smaller farms. This study offers important groundwork for refining Malaysia’s agricultural modernisation strategies under the National Agro-Food Policy (2021-2030).
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