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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2026, Vol. 25 Issue (6): 2201-2213    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.054
Section 1: Behavioral Adoption Drivers Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Drivers and barriers to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) adoption in agriculture: Evidence from Jiangxi Province, China

Bo Zhou1, Kuopeng Xie1, 2, Muhammad Azhar Iqbal3, Tariq Ali1#

1 School of Economics and Management, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China

2 Yutai County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, Jining 272300, China

3 Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

 Highlights 
We analyze factors affecting UAV adoption among Jiangxi (China) rice farmers using a structural equation model.
Perceived usefulness and ease of use boost adoption intention, while perceived risk hinders it.
Network externalities and peer influence also increase adoption likelihood, with perceived risk mediating this relationship.
The findings offer valuable guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders to encourage UAV use in agriculture.
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摘要  

植保无人驾驶航空器(plant-protection UAVs,简称植保无人机)在农业领域的应用越来越受到关注,但对其影响因素的实证研究相对较少。本研究以江西省260名稻农为研究对象,运用基于技术接受模型(TAM)的结构方程模型,分析了植保无人机采纳行为的影响因素。结果表明,感知有效性(β=1.274,p<0.001)和感知易用性(β=0.146,p<0.001)对采纳意愿具有显著正向影响,而感知风险(β=-0.731,p<0.001)对采纳意愿具有显著负向影响,成为影响农户无人机采纳行为的阻碍因素。网络外部性也起着重要作用,周围农户的影响会放大单个农户采用的可能性。中介效应分析显示,感知风险在网络外部性与采用意愿之间起中介作用(β=-0.569,p<0.05),并强调了社会因素与风险感知之间的相互作用。此外,农场规模(β=0.001p<0.001)对农户无人机技术采纳意愿有显著的积极影响,而教育水平、年龄和种植经验没有显著影响。研究结果为政策制定和行业发展提供了重要实践依据,有助于政府和行业设计针对性的干预措施以促进无人机在农业中的应用,如行业补贴、培训计划和风险管理等。



Abstract  

The adoption of plant-protection unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in agriculture is gaining attention, yet empirical evidence on the factors affecting their uptake remains limited.  This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of UAVs among rice farmers in China’s Jiangxi Province (n=260), utilizing a structural equation model grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).  Results indicate that perceived usefulness (β=1.274, P<0.001) and ease of use (β=0.146, P<0.001) have a positive influence on adoption intention, while perceived risk (β=–0.731, P<0.001) acts as a barrier.  Network externalities also play a significant role, with peer influence amplifying the likelihood of adoption.  Mediation analysis reveals that perceived risk mediates the relationship between network externalities and adoption (β=–0.569, P<0.05), underscoring the interplay between social factors and risk perception.  Additionally, farm size (β=0.001, P<0.001) has a significant positive effect on adoption decisions, whereas education level, age, and planting experience show no significant impact.  These findings provide critical insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders in designing targeted interventions, such as subsidies, training programs, and risk mitigation strategies, to promote the adoption of UAVs in agriculture.

Keywords:  digital agriculture       unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)       agricultural drones       technology acceptance model (TAM)  
Received: 20 December 2024   Accepted: 30 July 2025 Online: 29 December 2025  
About author:  #Correspondence Tariq Ali, E-mail: agri45@gmail.com

Cite this article: 

Bo Zhou, Kuopeng Xie, Muhammad Azhar Iqbal, Tariq Ali. 2026. Drivers and barriers to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) adoption in agriculture: Evidence from Jiangxi Province, China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 25(6): 2201-2213.

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[1] Hua Zhang, Lena Kuhn, Hang Xiong, Zhanli Sun. Farmers’ preferences for agricultural drone services under uncertainty: A choice experiment in Hubei, China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2188-2200.
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