Purpose This study investigates non-economic barriers to adopting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies in emerging economies, using survey data from Dalat, Vietnam, to examine pathways shaping smallholder farmers’ decisions. An integrated S-O-R and DOI framework highlights the mediating roles of psychological and technological factors in overcoming systemic barriers. Design/methodology/approach Survey data from smallholder farmers were analyzed with structural equation modeling (SEM). Perceptions of climate change were modeled as stimuli, with psychological and technological factors mediating adoption intentions. Innovation attributes such as trialability and compatibility were assessed. Findings Climate perceptions significantly shape psychological and technological factors, which strongly predict adoption intentions. Innovation barriers reduce readiness but indirectly affect adoption. The model explains 73.4% of the variance, with participatory trials identified as facilitators that reduce uncertainty and build trust in CSA technologies. Research limitations/implications Cross-sectional and self-reported data limit causal inference and may introduce bias. Future studies should adopt longitudinal and mixed-methods approaches and extend analysis to diverse agro-climatic contexts, incorporating mediators such as social networks and cultural influences. Originality/value This study extends the S-O-R framework to agricultural decision-making and integrates it with DOI to capture systemic, technological and behavioral dynamics. It shows how psychological resilience and technological readiness mitigate innovation barriers, emphasizing non-economic drivers often overlooked in CSA research. Linking rigorous modeling with actionable insights, it offers a transferable framework for scaling CSA in emerging economies.
Truong et al. (2026) studied this question.