Abstract

This study examines the structural relationships among Agri-FinTech Adoption (AFTA), Institutional and Regulatory Support (IRS), Institutional Governance (IG), and Sustainable Agricultural Finance and Resource Management Outcomes (SAFRMO) among agricultural enterprises in Thailand and considers their implications for resource management and selected governance principles associated with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), particularly accountability, transparency, and effective institutions. A quantitative cross-sectional explanatory design was employed using a simulation-based methodological demonstration representing 400 agricultural enterprises. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to assess the measurement model, followed by covariance-based Structural Equation Modeling to test five direct effects and two indirect effects through Institutional Governance. The structural model demonstrated satisfactory fit with the simulated covariance matrix: χ² = 214.638, df = 194, p = 0.148, χ²/df = 1.106, GFI = 0.932, NFI = 0.941, TLI = 0.986, CFI = 0.991, RMSEA = 0.016, RMR = 0.031, and SRMR = 0.029. Agri-FinTech Adoption positively influenced Institutional Governance (β = 0.566, p< 0.001) and SAFRMO (β = 0.316, p< 0.001). Institutional and Regulatory Support positively influenced Institutional Governance (β = 0.550, p<0.001) and SAFRMO (β = 0.512, p <0.001), while Institutional Governance positively influenced SAFRMO (β = 0.489, p < 0.001). The indirect effects of AFTA and IRS on SAFRMO through IG were β = 0.277 and β = 0.269, respectively, indicating partial mediation. The findings suggest that technological adoption, institutional support, and governance mechanisms should be developed jointly to promote accessible, resilient, transparent, and sustainable agricultural finance and resource management. Because the results are simulation based, they should not be interpreted as field-survey evidence or as direct measurement of SDG 16 achievement.