Effect of farmer’s age and level of education on the degree of adoption of precision technologies in sheep farms
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61308/HXPV3414Keywords:
sheep farming, precision livestock farming (PLF), Balkan regionAbstract
This study analyzes the impact of age and education level on the awareness and information behavior of 270 sheep farmers in Bulgaria during the 2024 - 2025 period. The results demonstrate a significant information gap, as nearly 49% of the respondents are unfamiliar with precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies. Demographic indicators emerge as a leading factor in digital readiness - the highest levels of awareness and active behavior are observed among young farmers under 40 years old (46 %) and those with higher education (61.29 %), who combine three or more information sources. Conversely, among farmers over 61 years old and those with primary education, over 54 % are unfamiliar with these technologies, relying only on traditional channels or showing a complete lack of interest in innovation. Bridging this gap requires targeted training strategies to turn technology into a tool for economic sustainability. Similar demographic trends and barriers to innovation are also observed in neighboring countries - Serbia, Romania, and Turkey, where farmer aging and low digital literacy remain common regional challenges.
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