This document reviews the factors affecting the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, highlighting low adoption rates due to various agronomic, regulatory, social, and financial issues. Key factors influencing farmers' decisions include income, credit availability, training, and access to extension services, with implications for future policies to enhance adoption. The study emphasizes the need for tailored initiatives to address these factors, particularly in environmentally vulnerable areas, to support a sustainable food supply.

1. Topic
• A Review of factors affecting the adoption of sustainable agriculture
practices.

2. Abstract
• Despite the fact that farmers in industrialised and developing nations have been exposed to
sustainable agricultural technologies and practices, there are worries regarding the low adoption
rates. The empirical data from the previous 23 years demonstrates that a variety of issues, from
agronomic to regulatory, personal to social, and financial to attitude-based, might impede the
adoption of new methods. Conclusions that can be applied to a variety of situations may be able
to influence the institutional and regulatory landscape in a way that will support the transition to
a more sustainably produced food supply. This is especially crucial when it comes to
environmentally polluted hotspots, such as the discharge of reactive pollutants into the
environment, and sustainable agriculture. This study conducted a systematic analysis of the
adoption literature in order to determine the variables that influence farmers' choices about the
adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and technologies. We discovered that important
factors influencing farmers' adoption decisions include income, credit, irrigation, soil quality,
education, extension, and training. As a result, initiatives to encourage the use of sustainable
agricultural methods will need to be modified to take these things into account. We draw the
conclusion that the factors that account for adoption in the examined studies may offer a
fundamental basis for studies and policies that support the uptake of sustainable agriculture
practices.

3. Introduction
• Conventional agriculture has caused many problems that have given rise to many environmental
issues. Disproportionate use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural waste poses a
threat to the environment. Such as depleted soil fertility, water scarcity, deforestation, climate
change, and health (J li et al., 2022). There are many obstacles facing agricultural systems, such as
climate change and environmental deterioration, which could lower agricultural production
(Foguesatto, C. R. et al.,). Sustainable agriculture practices (SAP) will help to reduce the
environmental impact and also increase agricultural productivity (Pham et al., 2021). That’s why
the Adoption of sustainable agriculture practices (SAP) is vital to ameliorating agriculture
sustainability. So, understanding this concept is important to enhance the adoption of sustainable
agriculture (Tey, Y. S. et al,). The concept of sustainable agriculture developed in the 1990s (Hayran,
S. et al.,). To achieve three separate but related goals—economic, ecological, and social—for
present and future generations, sustainable agriculture practices (SAPs) refer to different
techniques and practices that replace conventional agriculture systems (Foguesatto, C. R. et al.,).
Sustainable agriculture is crucial for the environment, it improves biodiversity and it also plays an
important role in achieving the SDGs (Nga Nguyen et al.,). Sustainable agriculture accommodates a
dynamic group of agriculture practices and technologies (Füsun Tatlıdil, F. et al.,) The optimum
strategy for maximizing the use of natural resources for human needs while minimizing
environmental damage has been determined to be sustainable agriculture (Alwedyan, S. et al.,).

4. • In this study, we examine the different factors that influence the farmers' adoption decision.
Previous studies show many factors such as socioeconomic, agroecological, informational,
psychological, and institutional factors affect the farmers’ adoption decision (Tey, Y. S. et al,).
According to (Kassie, M.) farmers' decisions depend upon these factors Government support,
extension services, farm size, and tenure status. Farmers' education, credit constraints, labour
availability, and market Access (Teklewold, H.,).
• According to (Aubert, B. A.,) Precision agriculture is a technique that uses IT-based technology in
agriculture like soil nutrient measuring and crop monitoring. The result of this study shows that
the availability of resources significantly influences the adoption of sustainable agriculture
techniques. The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced every sector and also affected agriculture
because SA is a knowledge and labor-intensive technology and during the pandemic labour
availability was not efficient. During lockdown, farmers have non availability of many services like
Advisory and extension (Martey, E.et al.,).

5. Methods
• To compile and integrate the information from earlier studies on the variables influencing
farmers' adoption of sustainable agriculture methods, a systematic review analysis was carried
out. Our review study solely includes empirical studies because our research focuses on primary
data-based studies. The objective of this paper is to identify the factors that impact the decisions
farmers make to implement sustainable agriculture practices. The literature search was done to
locate relevant publications published between 2000 and 2023 in the database of Scopus.
• Our research focuses on sustainable agriculture, and while some studies investigated the factors
that determined the adoption of specific technologies and practices such as integrated pest
management, precision agriculture, irrigation technologies, etc., the majority of the studies in our
analysis use several sustainable agricultural practices.
• We gathered the required data from each of the chosen papers, including the authors, the years
of publication, the variables, the sample size and technique, the findings, the implications, and
the statistical approach used. This literature review is performed to give scientific evidence of
elements that influence the farmers' SAP adoption decision.

6. Article selection
• Only English-language papers with titles and abstracts that included the keyword "adoption of
sustainable agriculture practices" were considered. we conducted a systematic search of articles
using the following keywords: "Sustainable Agriculture" "sustainable agriculture practices," "SAP
Adoption”, "farmers, "Adoption among farmers", "environmentally friendly practices," and "factor
affecting the farmers' SAP adoption," "Driver and barriers of SAP adoption," "Benefits of
sustainable agriculture practices,". 350 research publications are found in Scopus when we use
these keywords. We reviewed the abstracts of all 350 articles. Following that, we eliminated other
publications that were either review papers, lacked statistical estimation, employed only
secondary data, had inappropriate study designs, or were otherwise unrelated to our research. In
total, we eliminated 320 studies that weren't relevant to our investigation after evaluating all the
studies. Finally, 30 articles were chosen to be used in the development of this paper.

7. Review studies
Author Dependent variable Independent variable Methodology findings Implication
Zhang, L. et al.,
2018
Farmers' willingness to
reduce pesticide use
Farmers personal
characteristics,
household
characteristics,
production
characteristics,
government regulation
characteristics, and
farmers attitude about
environment and
quality
Data were gathered
using a well-designed
survey. 924 valid
samples were selected
using a random sample
approach. In order to
determine potential
factors influencing
farmers' have to use
fewer pesticides, binary
logistic regression was
utilised.
The outcomes of this study
demonstrated that,
although non-agricultural
income share has a negative
influence on farmers'
willingness to reduce
pesticide use and positively
and significantly influenced
by their concerns about the
environment, pesticide
residue cognition, the
quality of their
agroproducts, input
controls, and self-discipline.
Governments take action to
bolster input supervision and
raise farmers' understanding of
environmental issues. enhances
farmers' understanding of and
ability to safeguard the
environment while aiding in the
effective application of pesticides.

8. Adnan, N.et al.,
2017
Paddy farmers' intention
toward the adoption of
SAP
Theory of planned
behavior and technology
acceptance model
factors are independent
variables and
technology-aided
communication was the
moderator of the TPB
variable and intention
A variance-based SEM
approach was applied and
data were collected
through structured
questionnaires 220
questionnaires were
distributed and 122 valid
responses were found
TAM’s variables (perceived
awareness, ease of use,
perceived usefulness) were
positively significant toward
paddy farmers' attitudes. TPB’s
variables (Attitude, Subjective
norm, Perceived. behavioral
control) were positively
significant toward farmers'
sustainable agriculture
adoption intention.
Technology aided
communication is supported
toward attitude and SN and
not supported toward PBC.
It is helpful to reduce poverty and
improve production level and for
making policies regarding subsidies
and incentives.

9. Factors influencing the adoption of SAP
• This review shows that the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices is low in many studies. Table 1 shows the
information of studies such as factors that affect the adoption, findings and implications, etc. These studies
categorized the factors that influence farmers' adoption broadly into Farm and farmer characteristics, institutional
factors, extensional services, etc.
• Farm and Farmers’ characteristics
• Characteristics of farmers the most often occurring factors in our analysis were farmer age, gender, family size,
agricultural income, farming experience, education, and farm characteristics, such as size, tenure, land ownership,
and resource availability. While some studies indicate a detrimental influence on adoption, it was shown that the
age of the farmers was a significant driver of sustainable adoption. The adoption of sustainable agriculture is
positively influenced by younger farmers. Studies indicated that education was positively important in the majority
of them. Some research examined the influence of farmers' gender and family size on adoption decisions in
addition to age and education. Women have a more positive attitude toward the adoption of sustainable
agriculture, according to a single study (Karami, E. et al., 2008). It is largely suggested that family size matters and
affects SAP adoption. The majority of the research discovered a favorable significant relationship between SAP
adoption and farm size and stable land tenure. These two factors farm and farmers' characteristics have a
significant impact on farmers' decisions to adopt SAP, and the majority of research suggests that these variables
have varying effects on farmers' decisions.

10. Institutional Factors
• Based on the empirical research examined in this study, the
institutional dimension is where the majority of the determinants
influencing SAP adoption are found. The constellations that resolve
coordination issues and foster collaboration among rural residents are
referred to as the institutional component. This dimension includes
elements that affect the uptake of SAP, such as availability of public
programmes, loan and subsidy availability, regular extension delivery,
on-site training from local organisations, and participation in
agricultural cooperatives. Farmers are informed about SAP both
directly and indirectly thanks in large part to institutional networks.

11. Extension factors
This includes research that calculated the number of extension visits as
well as studies that measured extension contact as access to extension
services using binary or categorical responses. The general adoption
literature generally agrees that higher technology and practice
adoption resulted from access to extension services. The results of
these research on the impact of extension on adoption in South Africa
are consistent with the larger body of literature. One factor that
influenced the choice to install SAP was credit availability. Guidance
from extension agents enhances competency in using new technology
and innovation since they are significant sources of information about
sustainable agriculture technology and innovation.

12. Economical factors
• Subsidies were found to have a statistically significant favourable impact on
adoption.More research looking at the impact of subsidies on adoption is
anticipated given how commonplace they are in South Africa. Another factor
influencing acceptance is finance availability, which makes it easier for farmers to
buy the inputs required for new practices or technologies, especially for those
that demand a large initial investment.
• Information and Awareness
• Crop productivity might be severely harmed by the increased frequency and
intensity of extreme weather events brought on by climate change, such as
typhoons, heat waves, droughts, and floods. The assessment of these losses has a
positive impact on crop planting and insurance acquisition. The decision to adopt
SAP may be positively influenced by farmers who join associations, rely on
government initiatives, have positive relationships with community members
generally, and support extension services.

13. Recommendation for adoption of SAP
• Strong adoption drivers that increase access to information and advance
knowledge include having access to extension services, education, and
training. to promote the implementation of sustainable farming methods.
Farmers can reduce their reliance on non-institutional financing sources
and increase formal credit availability by implementing credit policies that
will facilitate the implementation of sustainable agricultural techniques.
Adoption is also encouraged by subsidies, and governments in South
Africa have always supported agriculture heavily. It may be beneficial to
apply the intervention to all groups to encourage widespread acceptance.
But if this goal is accomplished and other interventions are required, a
more focused intervention should be used. This could be accomplished by
taking into account how heterogeneous farmer-related attributes like age,
gender,

14. Conclusion
• The literature on the variables influencing the adoption of technology and
practices in South Africa has been thoroughly reviewed in this paper. The
research that are part of this review Thirty articles met the inclusion criteria
and were included in Scopus. We looked at the comparability of adoption
determinants and the consistency of their respective relationships with
sustainable management techniques. We also performed a count analysis
for the variables that determine the adoption of sustainable agriculture
methods. Farmers' adoption of agricultural technologies and practices in
South Africa is influenced by a number of factors, including those
pertaining to their demographics, knowledge, attitudes, information, and
awareness, farm characteristics, financial incentives, macro factors, features
of the practices and technologies, and interactions between them. Clearer
reporting regarding is necessary for future studies.