Factors influencing adoption of improved wheat varieties and their impacts on food security dimensions: Application of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) in East Azarbaijan

This study examined the major effective factors on farmer’s adoption of improved wheat varieties and investigated their impacts on food security in East Azarbaijan province based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. The population of this study comprised wheat growers who adopted improved wheat varieties in 21 regions. The study sample consisted of 380 wheat growers selected through stratified random sampling. A questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Validity was confirmed by face validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity and reliability was calculated using Composite Reliability and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data was analyzed using Smart-PLS software. The findings showed that the performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and trust, had a positive and significant effect on the intention to adopt technology as well as on the dimensions of food security. In addition, the moderating variables of age, gender, and experience did not have a significant effect on related constructs.