Decoding the complexity of sustainable rice farming: a systematic review of critical determining factor of farmers’ sustainable practices adoption

Abstract

The growing global concern about food security will be exacerbated by a projected population increase of nearly 10 billion by the year 2050. Rice cultivation is central to this discussion, as it feeds more than half of the world’s population. This systematic review addresses the urgent issue of global food security with an emphasis on sustainable rice farming. Traditional rice cultivation methods pose significant environmental challenges, such as methane emissions and high carbon footprints. Despite the increasing body of work on sustainable rice farming techniques, a gap exists from the absence of consolidated reviews. This study synthesised existing literature from SCOPUS and Web of Science databases according to PRISMA guidelines. Under strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 49 of the initial 3259 studies identified were analysed. This present study established three pivotal factors influencing the adoption of sustainable practices among rice farmers: individual characteristics, community and social variables, and institutional frameworks. These elements hold crucial implications for policy formulation and provide a foundation for multidisciplinary collaboration to foster sustainable rice farming. This study fills a critical research void by delineating the key parameters that guide the adoption of sustainable practices within the rice farming community.

KEYWORD:

• Sustainable
• rice
• farmers
• adoption
• communication
• PRISMA
• review

Reviewing Editor:

• Manuel Tejada, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

Subject:

• Agricultural Development
• Development Communication
• Environmental Communication
• Sustainable Development
• Sustainability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ammar Redza Ahmad Rizal

Ammar Redza Ahmad Rizal is a senior lecturer at the Centre for Research in Media and Communication, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. His research interest is on innovation diffusion, adoption study, strategic communication, communication in politics and democracy. Email: [email protected]

Shahrina Md Nordin

Shahrina Md Nordin is a professor and director at Institute of Self Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia. Her current research involves Corporate Social Responsibility, strategic communication and innovation diffusion. Email: [email protected]

Rafidah Abd Rashid

Rafidah Abd Rashid is doctoral candidate at Centre of Social Innovation, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia. Her research interest is on farmers’ adoption of new technologies. Email: [email protected]

Nurzihan Hassim

Nurzihan Hassim is a senior lecturer at the Centre for Research in Media & Communication (MENTION), Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Her research interests include cultural and new media studies, specifically youths and behavioural change in the digital sphere. Email: [email protected]