<p>Pakistan is severely affected by smog and haze resulting from post-harvest crop residue burning. The environmental and human health impacts of this practice are deeply concerning. There is increasing recognition of sustainable crop residue management techniques as a solution; however, their adoption remains limited due to technological, financial, and operational barriers. This study examines the impact of participation in collective group activities on farmers’ intention to adopt sustainable crop residue management technologies. Based on survey data from 500 farmers, this study employed a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to test the proposed objectives. The SEM results reveal that knowledge sharing (β = 0.651, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), social influence (β = 0.445, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and access to resources (β = 0.330, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) through collective action groups significantly influence farmers’ intention to adopt sustainable crop residue management technologies. The findings highlight the importance of knowledge and skill sharing, resource mobilization, and social influence in overcoming barriers to residue management technologies. The study provides critical insights for policymakers to foster farmer collaboration, strengthen social networks, and develop local institutional mechanisms to support sustainable farming. It further suggests strategies to enhance the adoption of sustainable crop residue management technologies, reduce residue burning, and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals such as climate action and life on land in developing countries.</p><p><b>Clinical Trial Registration:</b> Not applicable.</p>