Digital Technologies Adoption and Economic Benefits in Agriculture: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Abstract

Governments globally aim to boost productivity and enhance farmers’ livelihoods, addressing challenges like climate change, food security, and labor shortages through digital technologies. However, adoption rates in developing countries remain low due to uncertainties regarding expected returns and obstacles stemming from subjective and objective factors among farmers. This study takes China as a case study to examine the internal and external factors influencing growers’ adoption intensity of digital technology and its impact on enhancing economic benefits, aiming to provide valuable insights for the promotion of digital technology in other countries and regions. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative methodologies, utilizing data from Shandong and Liaoning provinces. The findings underscore the significant role of growers’ knowledge, technology compatibility, government support, and competitive pressure in driving the adoption of digital technology among growers, with male growers and those managing larger cultivation areas demonstrating higher adoption intensity. Digital technologies can enhance growers’ economic benefits by reducing labor and input costs, increasing yields, and improving quality, with a 30.4% increase in economic benefits for each unit increase in adoption intensity of digital technologies. Technology promoters can use these findings to enhance growers’ awareness, highlight the practical benefits, and offer agricultural socialized services to promote digital technology adoption.