TOWARD SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: ADOPTION AND CHALLENGES OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE IN ALBANIA

Abstract

Precision agriculture (PA) has emerged as a transformative paradigm for enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of agricultural systems, leveraging technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, sensor networks, and advanced data analytics. While its uptake is substantial in advanced economies, diffusion across the Western Balkans, and Albania in particular, remains limited. This study examines the extent of awareness and adoption of PA among Albanian farmers, identifies the principal drivers and barriers, and situates these findings within the broader regional context. A mixed-methods research design was employed, integrating survey data from 200 farmers with heterogeneous farm sizes and production systems, alongside in-depth qualitative case studies. Results indicate that although 45% of respondents reported awareness of PA, only 10% had adopted such technologies, with adoption concentrated among larger-scale, more commercially oriented, and better-educated farmers. The most frequently implemented technologies included GPS-guided machinery, soil sensors, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Regression analysis identified farm size, educational attainment, and participation in agricultural extension services as significant predictors of adoption. In contrast, high capital costs, insufficient technical capacity, and inadequate digital infrastructure were the most prominent barriers. The findings underscore the necessity of targeted policy interventions—particularly those that address financial constraints, capacity building, and infrastructure development, to accelerate the diffusion of precision agriculture in transitional economies such as Albania.