The Adoption of Agricultural Technology and Its Controlling Factors: A Partial Correlation Study

Abstract

This study aims to analyze rice farmers’ perceptions of modern agricultural technologies and to examine the relationships among key perception variables while controlling for age and land size. The research was conducted in Kluet Utara and Kluet Selatan Districts, South Aceh Regency, involving 99 rice farmers selected through a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering farming conditions before and after the use of modern technologies, access to machinery, operational skills, perceived welfare improvements, and farmers’ intention to continue using technology. Descriptive analysis was employed to compare pre- and post-mechanization conditions, while partial correlation analysis was used to assess the strength of relationships among variables after controlling for age and land size. The results reveal significant differences between farming conditions before and after mechanization, particularly in terms of labor efficiency and time savings. Farmers’ operational skills show a strong positive association with perceived welfare improvements, and this relationship remains robust even after controlling for age and land size. In contrast, access to agricultural machinery does not consistently correlate with welfare perceptions when control variables are included. These findings indicate that skills play a central role in maximizing the benefits of modern agricultural technologies, whereas demographic differences do not substantially influence farmers’ perception patterns. This study provides important implications for policy formulation, highlighting the need for skill-focused training programs and strengthened machinery service provision to ensure that agricultural mechanization effectively contributes to farmers’ welfare in a more equitable manner.