PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

The concept of smart farming is increasingly being applied in the agricultural industry to enhance efficiency, boost productivity and strengthen food security. It also contributes to achieving sustainable farming practices. Young farmers who are more digitally literate and adaptable to new technologies are often more inclined to explore and adopt smart farming solutions. This systematic literature review article on the adoption of smart farming technologies, particularly among young farmers, examines the factors influencing their adoption. A comprehensive search was conducted in databases such as Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and Google Scholar, focussing on peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2024. The review adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 213 articles were retrieved during the identification process, and after the screening, eligibility assessment, and quality appraisal, only 15 articles were selected for inclusion in this SLR. The review identified six key themes, including individual factors, social influences, knowledge and experience, technology factors, institutional support, and economic factors. Further analysis of these themes resulted in the identification of 13 sub-themes. Findings suggest that perceived usefulness, followed by psychological factors, are the primary factors of smart farming technology adoption among young farmers. However, economic factors, particularly cost, remain a significant barrier. Finally, the study presents several recommendations at the end of this research for the reference of future scholars.