Abstract

Uptake of farming technologies by smallholder farmers is necessary to speed up the transition to climate-smart agriculture so as to address the potential impacts of climate change on agricultural production, food security, and reduction of greenhouse gas emission. Using survey data from 341 households, this study analyzes the factors that determine the probability and level of adoption of multiple climate-smart agriculture technologies. The technologies assessed were improved crop varieties, minimum tillage, timely planting, fertilizer and manure use, agroforestry, and diversified farming (crop and animal production). A multivariate probit model was applied for the simultaneous multiple adoption decisions and to evaluate the determinants of adoption, allowing for the examination of synergies and trade-offs between the technologies. The adoption of various climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices was interrelated. Several factors, including the gender of the household head, age, literacy level of the household head, land size, farmers’ group membership, access to extension services, access to weather information, and trust in weather information were found to affect the probability and level of climate-smart agriculture adoption. The study, therefore, calls for agricultural policy reforms so that most of the issues related to the uptake of climate-smart agriculture technologies can be effectively addressed. In addition, strategies that focus on building household resources as a pathway for improved adoption of new technologies are recommended.

Key words: Climate-smart agriculture, multiple adoption decisions, multivariate probit model.