IoT Adoption in Agriculture: Linking Technology Readiness, Acceptance and Entrepreneurial Ambidexterity Among Small-scale Farmers in Sabah

The adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in agriculture has the potential to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. However, small-scale farmers often face barriers related to technological capability, acceptance, and limited resources. The Sabah state’s alarming long-term food security is further challenged by a declining workforce and limited productivity. Understanding the readiness and acceptance of Sabahan farmers towards IoT adoption is therefore needed in shaping effective interventions. The goals of this study are (i) to investigate the influence of technology readiness on technology acceptance within a technology readiness–acceptance framework; (ii) to examine the effects of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on IoT adoption intention; and (iii) to analyse the mediating role of entrepreneurial ambidexterity in strengthening the relationship between technology acceptance and adoption intention among small-scale farmers in Sabah. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was applied, with data collected from small-scale farmers using proportionate stratified random sampling. The dataset was analysed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the research framework. The findings demonstrate that (i) technology readiness motivators significantly influence technology acceptance, (ii) perceived usefulness is the strongest predictor of IoT adoption intention, and (iii) entrepreneurial ambidexterity plays a significant mediating role, particularly through perceived ease of use. This study contributes to providing empirical evidence on the behavioural factors shaping IoT adoption among smallholder farmers. The results propose practical directions for policymakers, agricultural technology providers and stakeholders in designing strategies that align with farmers’ readiness and support the digital transformation of Sabah’s agricultural sector.