Context Digital Agricultural Technologies (DAT) can break through the limitation of agricultural resource endowment, maximize yields while protecting the environment. Nevertheless, DAT is rarely adopted by farmers in China. Objective This study develops a theoretical framework for technology diffusion that incorporates agricultural organizations, governments, and farmers. The aim was to examines the effect of farmers’ degree of organization on the adoption of DAT, its mechanism of action and the role of government. Methods Multivariate ordinal regression model, causal mediation model and moderating effect model were employed to analyze the relationship between farmers’ organization degree and DAT adoption. Results and conclusions The farmers’ organizational degree promotes farmers to adopt DAT through two paths, farmers’ livelihood specialization and production specialization. Government support significantly influences the adoption of DAT among organized farmers. In different support strategies, infrastructure construction can promote the adoption of DAT by organized farmers, while government subsidies can only promote the adoption of DAT by organized farmers with a certain level of production specialization. Significance The conclusions of this study offer theoretical support for developing countries in promoting DAT and implementing policy tools. JEL:O31;O38;O32