The Adoption of Drones Spraying Application in Bagan Terap, Malaysian Paddy Field: Farmer Perspectives and Technology Acceptance

Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) are a recent innovation in Malaysia's agriculture sector. In rice fields, spraying pesticides manually can be hazardous for farmers. Drones offer a safer, more efficient alternative, potentially reducing spraying time by at least 33% compared to traditional methods. However, drone adoption by farmers remains limited. This study investigates farmers' risk perceptions and willingness to adopt drone technology in the IADA region. Using a survey of 88 farmers in IADA, Bagan Terap, and analyzed with SPSS, this paper found a positive outlook towards drone use. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between farmers' attitudes, social influence, economic factors, perceived risk, and their willingness to adopt drones. Applying the technology acceptance model, regression analysis showed that attitude was the strongest predictor of drone adoption intentions. These findings suggest that addressing farmers' attitudes, along with social and economic factors, could promote drone usage in agriculture.