Financing Digital Safety in Agriculture: Evidence from a Survey of Romanian Farmers

Safety in agriculture is increasingly dependent on digital solutions that mitigate operational risks and enhance emergency response. However, the uptake of such technologies remains uneven, and access to financing serving as a critical enabling factor. This paper examines the impact of financing conditions on digital safety adoption, drawing on primary survey data from 185 Romanian farmers (N=185). The research is located within the digital transformation of the banking sector, where financial institutions and public guarantee schemes drive investment decisions. Using a quantitative approach (descriptive and inferential statistics), the study investigates the associations between access to bank lending, perceived affordability, and investment intentions. The results reveal a general trend toward digital safety adoption; however, cross-sectional analysis shows that investment readiness is heavily stratified by farm size and credit access, with larger commercial holdings showing significantly higher adoption intent than small-scale farmers. Financial risk perceptions and cost challenges remain primary obstacles for producers without formal credit access. By providing empirical evidence from an emerging European economy, this article contributes to the literature on finance-driven technology adoption and offers strategic guidance for banks and policy makers aiming to develop technology-integrated agricultural systems.