Abstract
This study examines the determinants of unequal distribution of digital financial adoption benefits among agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kazakhstan. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design –astructured survey of 50 agricultural enterprises across eleven regions, supplemented by semi-structured interviews with representatives of five state institutions –the study investigates the role of state-support delivery channels, institutional barriers, and enterprise structural characteristics in shaping digital financial outcomes. The results reveal that enterprises accessing state support through digital channels achieve substantially higher financial performance than those using traditional channels(mean FPI 3.60 vs. 2.62; Mann–Whitney U = 241.0, p < 0.001, r = 0.80). A critical structural finding is that limited liability partnerships (LLPs) exclusively use digital support channels, while individual entrepreneurs (IEs) rely entirely on traditional channels –a divide that largely explains the performance gap. Financial and informational barriers are rated the most significant constraints to adoption, with barrier intensity inversely correlated with enterprise size. The 5.7-fold regional adoption gapbetween North Kazakhstan and the lowest-performing regions further underscores the spatial dimension of digital financial exclusion. The findings carry direct implications for the inclusive design of agricultural digitalisation programmes in Kazakhstan and comparable transition economies.