Analysis of Influencing Factors on Attitude Kermanshah Potato Farmers in Using UAV Technology: Application PNTC-AUTAUT Integrated Model.

Although there are acceptable infrastructures for precision agriculture in Iran, its adoption always has faced challenges and obstacles. A review of previous literature showed the issue of acceptance of these technologies not only in Iran but also in other overseas research has been studied in a one-dimensional and superficial manner. Therefore, the current study aims to analyze the issue of attitude to use one of the most important and practical technologies of precision agriculture, i.e. UAV, from a new perspective and using the PNTC-AUTAUT model. For this purpose, descriptive cross-sectional survey method was used. The statistical population was the potato farmers of Kermanshah city (N=596), according to Morgan's table, 234 of them were studied using systematic random sampling. The data was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed by a panel of experts and Cronbach's alpha test, AVE, and CR, respectively. The results of structural equation modeling showed that except for the factors: of community influence and perceived need, all the items raised in the model have a significant effect on the intention to use UAV technology. In this regard, the variables of perceived risks and perceived benefits of using technology with values of 0.248 and 0.244 have the greatest effect on the intention to use drone technology. Also, the mediating variable of required technical specifications has the greatest effect on the attitude to use drone technology. Based on the extracted results, it is suggested that by providing a suitable platform such as favorable investment, training of farmers, and promoting experts in the field of agriculture, the path forward to the use of new technologies, especially drone technology, can be shortened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]