Adoption Of Climate-smart Agricultural Practices Research Articles

Determinants of choice of Climate Smart Agricultural practices adoption among yam based farming households in Ogun State, Nigeria

Agriculture is highly vulnerable to the effect of climate change even though is the most weather dependent of human activities. Thus, there is a need for sustainable approach to practice of agriculture in the region. This study examined the determinants of adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices among yam based farming households in Ogun State, Nigeria. A sample of 160 respondents were selected through multi stage sampling technique from two out of the four Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) zones in the state and data were collected with the use of structured questionnaire, which was also used as an interview guide. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate probit model. The findings showed that 89.38% of the yam based farmers were men. Majority (65%) of the farmers were between 41 to 60 years. Also, it was revealed that only 16.3% of the respondents did not have any form of formal education. Mulching was found to be the CSA practice that is mostly adopted in the area with 90.6% of the respondents adopting the practice while mixed farming was the least adopted with 20.6% of the respondents adopting it. Also, it was revealed that on the average, a farmer adopted three out of the five practices considered. Furthermore, the multivariate probit results revealed the following factors that influence adoption of the various CSA practices; radio information, farm size, volume of credit, farming experience, number of contact with extension agent, and membership of cooperative society were positively significant at 1%, 5% and 10 % while sex, age, years of education, use of credit, access to extension service and membership of farmers association were negatively significant at 1%, 5% and 10 %. The study recommended that CSA practices should be introduced to yam based farmers not as a new set of technology but should be diffused to them as an improvement on those indigenous practices they are used to, to enable fast adoption of CSA practice in the area.

Drivers of farmers' adoption and continuation of climate-smart agricultural practices. A study from northeastern Italy

The EU rural development policy has addressed challenges related to climate change in agriculture by introducing public voluntary schemes, which financially support the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. Several factors, most of which are non-financial ones, drive adoption and continuation of these schemes by farmers. Despite the importance of these factors, only a few studies explore their role in the European context. This paper contributes to filling this gap from a twofold perspective. First, it investigates the role of the farming factors, technology accessibility, environmental features, policy design and social expertise at the territorial level on early adoption. Second, it sheds light on farmers' attitudes and motivations and on social pressure on their decision to continue or discontinue the practices, by surveying a sample of early adopters. Three schemes for the Veneto region rural development programme are considered: no-tillage, fertiliser reduction, and water and fertiliser reduction. The results highlight that non-financial factors should be considered in order to design more effective schemes to prompt farmers to adopt and continue such practices over the long run. The paper also stresses the need to complement financial support with proactive information-based instruments.

Determinants of the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices by Small-Scale Farming Households in King Cetshwayo District Municipality, South Africa

Agriculture, particularly small-scale farming, is both a contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a victim of the effects of climate change. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers a unique opportunity to adapt to the effects of climate change while at the same time mitigating GHG emissions. The low response to the adoption of CSA among small-scale farmers raises questions as to the factors influencing its adoption in the small-scale farming system. With the aid of a close-ended questionnaire, structured interviews were conducted and formed the basis on which data were generated from 327 small-scale farmers selected through random sampling. Descriptive statistics, Composite Score Index and a Generalized Ordered Logit Regression (gologit) model were employed for the analysis. The majority (56.6%) of the sampled farmers fell in the medium category of users of CSA practices, while the lowest proportion (17.7%) of the sampled farmers fell in the high category. The use of organic manure, crop rotation and crop diversification were the most popular CSA practices among the sampled farmers. Educational status, farm income, farming experience, size of farmland, contact with agricultural extension, exposure to media, agricultural production activity, membership of an agricultural association or group and the perception of the impact of climate change were found to be statistically significant and positively correlated with the level of CSA adoption. Furthermore, off-farm income and distance of farm to homestead were statistically significant but negatively correlated with the CSA level of adoption. This paper argues that climate change-related education through improved extension contact and exposure to mass media can strengthen integrated farm activities that bolster farm income. Additionally, farmer associations or groups should be given adequate attention to facilitate CSA adoption as a means to climate change mitigation and resilience.

How to Effectively Enhance Sustainable Livelihoods in Smallholder Systems: A Comparative Study from Western Kenya

Increasing communities’ adaptive capacity is crucial to enhancing the sustainability of livelihoods and landscapes in smallholder systems. This study evaluates the contributions of an asset-based community-driven local development project, which has an objective to enhance farmer livelihoods through context-specific agricultural and agroforestry training, in line with farmers’ identities, interests, and preferences. The project was implemented in two areas of the wider Nyando river basin: the Lower and Middle Nyando sites. The project effects on farmer livelihoods were evaluated by analyzing overall income enhancement through the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices via the computation of total values of harvest. Socioeconomic data from 183 households, half of which were involved in the project, were considered. The findings showed that locality played an important role in the adoption and success of good agricultural practices. Additional significant positive factors included project participation, size of land operated, horticulture farming, livestock ownership, ownership of a title deed, hours worked, and crop species richness. The number of years farmed had a significant negative correlation with the value of harvest. Considering the stark differences in livelihood effects in both sites, researchers conclude that external support for climate-smart agriculture uptake needs to be considerate of, and respond to, biophysical and socioeconomic context.

The roles of risk aversion and climate-smart agriculture in climate risk management: Evidence from rice production in the Jianghan Plain, China

Under pressure to ensure national food security, China’s rice sector needs to adapt to changing climatic conditions. By investigating the effect of farmer’s risk preferences, adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and use of crop insurance on technical efficiency of rice production, this paper explores climate-smart agriculture as a strategy to cope with climate risk challenges. The empirical investigation adopts a stochastic frontier analysis approach which allows simultaneous estimation of a production function and identification of factors associated with technical efficiency. Data for rice plots of 873 farmers in the Jianghan Plain of China are used to fit the model. Farmers’ risk preferences are measured using a standard experiment approach. Most respondents are found to be risk averse, and greater risk aversion is found to significantly decrease technical efficiency. Using climate-smart practices – crop rotations and conservation tillage – have the extra benefit of improving technical efficiency; crop insurance has no significant effect on technical efficiency. Overall, the results shed new light on the negative role of risk aversion on China’s agriculture, and the multiple benefits of climate-smart practices in creating a stronger agricultural production system that is resilient to climate risks.

Does climate-smart village approach influence gender equality in farming households? A case of two contrasting ecologies in India

Evidence from climate-smart village (CSV) approach to mainstream climate-smart agriculture (CSA) demonstrates improved productivity, income, and reduced climatic risks. However, its contribution to gender empowerment in diverse farming households is not documented. This study creates a Gender Empowerment Index for climate-smart villages (GEI-CSV) based on four major measurable indicators—political, economic, agricultural, and social. The gender gap was derived by mapping difference in empowerment levels across selected CSVs and non-CSVs. These indicators can be used as a vital tool to understand the process of gender empowerment that can trigger the entry points to achieve gender equality, which is also an important aspect in the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices (CSAPs). The study measures empowerment at the inter-household and intra-household level across CSVs and non-CSVs from the individual household survey with both female and male members of the same household. This paper provides evidence demonstrating how gender empowerment differs in CSVs and non-CSVs from selected climate-smart villages (community-based approach) in two contrasting ecologies and socio-economic settings of India. The study documents the existing gender gap in CSVs and non-CSVs across India’s western (Haryana) and eastern (Bihar) Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). Irrespective of CSVs and non-CSVs, considerable differences in outlook and gender gap were observed between Bihar and Haryana. Both women and men in Bihar are less empowered than they are in Haryana. High empowerment level in CSVs than non-CSVs shows that the concept of CSVs has brought a change towards knowledge and capacity enhancement of both women and men farmers promoting gender equality in farming households with a varying scope of interventions made and required for scaling CSAPs across the diversity of farming households.

Farm household typology and adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices in smallholder farming systems of southern Africa

Enhancing adoption rates of climate-smart agriculture practices and their impact on livelihoods requires promotional persistence, complemented by a thorough socioeconomic analysis that recognizes the heterogeneity of smallholder farmers. Farm typologies are a useful tool to assist in understanding and unpacking the wide diversity amongst smallholder farmers to improve both up- and out-scaling of climate-smart agriculture practices. Our study typifies farm households in southern Africa based on socioeconomic factors prompting adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices. We use a combination of principal component analysis for necessary data reduction and cluster analysis to identify typical farm households and their socioeconomic characteristics. It is evident from our results that various socioeconomic factors define clusters and can be associated with adoption and use of climate-smart agriculture practices in smallholder farming. We conclude that farm typology identification is an important step towards the promotion of climate-smart agriculture practices in smallholder agriculture. These typologies provide essential ammunition to support efforts and policies aimed at improving adoption by recognizing heterogeneities in the targeted populations. In addition, we conclude that the multivariate analysis provides useful tools suitable for identifying the important socioeconomic characteristics of households influential in determining adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices.

Adoption of multiple climate-smart agricultural practices in the Gangetic plains of Bihar, India

PurposeThe adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAPs) is important for sustaining Indian agriculture in the face of climate change. Despite considerable effort by both national and international agricultural organizations to promote CSAPs in India, adoption of these practices is low. This study aims to examine the elements that affect the likelihood and intensity of adoption of multiple CSAPs in Bihar, India.Design/methodology/approachThe probability and intensity of adoption of CSAPs are analyzed using multivariate and ordered probit models, respectively.FindingsThe results show significant correlations between multiple CSAPs, indicating that their adoptions are interrelated, providing opportunities to exploit the complementarities. The results confirm that both the probability and intensity of adoption of CSAPs are affected by numerous factors, such as demographic characteristics, farm plot features, access to market, socio-economics, climate risks, access to extension services and training. Farmers who perceive high temperature as the major climate risk factor are more likely to adopt crop diversification and minimum tillage. Farmers are less likely to adopt site-specific nutrient management if faced with short winters; however, they are more likely to adopt minimum tillage in this case. Training on agricultural issues is found to have a positive impact on the likelihood and the intensity of CSAPs adoption.Practical implicationsThe major policy recommendations coming from of our results are to strengthen local institutions (public extension services, etc.) and to provide more training on CSAPs.Originality/valueBy applying multivariate and ordered probit models, this paper provides some insights on the long-standing discussions on whether farmers adopt CSAPs in a piecemeal or in a composite way.

Farmers’ intrinsic values for adopting climate-smart practices in Kenya: empirical evidence from a means-end chain analysis

This study assesses intrinsic values and motivations farmers have for adopting various climate-smart agricultural practices in Kenya. The qualitative method of laddering was employed as an interview technique, and means-end chain analysis was used for hierarchical mapping in order to depict farmers’ decision-making processes concerning the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices as well as their envisioned goals and values underpinning these actions. The findings show that farmers decided on measures that improved farm productivity, food security and household income. The study highlights that an irreconcilable conflict between values exists due to changing climate conditions. It will be difficult for women attached to conservative values to pursue achievement or benevolence values. Similarly, male-differentiated values suggest a need for a trade-off of their self-enhancement values that oppose universalism values related to environmental sustainability and welfare for all. The findings call for the design of climate change policies and adaptation interventions that take into account farmers’ fundamental values and their gendered preferences.

Beyond Striga Management: Learning Videos Enhanced Farmers’ Knowledge on Climate-Smart Agriculture in Mali

This paper assesses the climate smart agricultural practices triggered by learning videos on integrated striga management, soil fertility and cost and benefit evaluation practices. Using household head interviews and focus group discussions, this study revealed that farmers have similar perceptions of climate change and related impacts in video-villages and in non-video-villages. However, farmers’ observation of climate change and related impacts are influenced by gender; men perceived more climate change and related impacts than women. In non-video villages, few respondents adopted crop rotation, intercropping, crop diversification, improved short-cycle seed varieties and zaï techniques as climate change adaptation strategies. Videos contribute more to the adoption of crop rotation, intercropping and fertilizer application for men than women. Videos on accounting (managing money) enable more women than men to enhance their cost-benefit evaluation practices for income improvement. During the interviews, women farmers in video-villages were eager to demonstrate their knowledge about cost and benefit evaluation. We also found that the yield of sorghum, millet and maize is high in video-villages and low in non-video-villages. Thus, using videos as extension tool is suitable for knowledge development and leads to the high adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices for food security.

Adoption and Dissemination Pathways for Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies and Practices for Climate-Resilient Livelihoods in Lushoto, Northeast Tanzania

Smallholder farmers in East Africa need information and knowledge on appropriate climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, technologies, and institutional innovations in order to effectively adapt to changing climatic conditions and cope with climate variability. This paper assesses farmer adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and innovation after being exposed to Farms of the Future Approach (FotF). First; we explore and assess the various CSA technologies and practices; including institutional innovations farmers are adopting. Second; we identify and document farmer learning and dissemination pathways that can enhance adoption of CSA technologies and practices. Third; we identify existing institutions that enhance adoption of CSA practices. We use household survey data, complemented by qualitative information from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The results show farmers are adopting a variety of CSA technologies, practices, and institutional innovations to after participating in the FotF approach with use of improved crop varieties, agroforestry, and scientific weather forecast information cited as the main practices. To minimize their risks and reduce vulnerabilities, farmers are diversifying and integrating five to 10 CSA practices in one season. Matengo pits, SACCOs, and efficient energy stoves were adopted by very few farmers due to their high initial investment costs and unsuitability to the area. Ninety-eight percent of farmers reported that they receive agricultural information orally from a variety of sources including government extension workers, seed companies, researchers, traditional experts, neighbors, radio agricultural shows, religious groups, farmer groups, and family members. Lastly, farmers reported that the FotF approach is a useful tool that enabled them to interact with other farmers and learn new CSA practices and innovations. Suggested improvements to make on the FotF included include longer trip duration, increased number of farmer participants, and gender balance and age considerations to include youth.

Migration and Incomes in Source Communities: A New Economics of Migration Perspective from China

The objective of this paper is to understand the effects of China’s migration on source communities and to discuss their policy implications. We draw from New Economics of Labor Migration (NELM) theory to understand how migration and migrant remittances can relax or tighten market constraints in China’s rural economy. Using simultaneous-equation econometric techniques and household survey data from China, we estimate net, sectorspecific effects of migration on rural household income, focusing on farm production and self-employment. Our econometric findings indicate that the loss of labor to migration has a negative effect on household cropping income in source areas. However, we provide evidence that remittances sent home by migrants positively compensate for this lost-labor effect, contributing to household incomes directly and indirectly by stimulating crop and possibly self-employment production. This finding offers evidence in support of the NELM hypothesis that remittances loosen constraints on production in the imperfect-market environments characterizing rural areas in less developed countries. Taking into account both the multiple effects of migration and the change in household size, participating in migration increases household per-capita income between 14 and 30 percent. Migration and Incomes in Source Communities: A New Economics of Migration Perspective from China China is experiencing the largest peacetime flow of labor out of agriculture ever witnessed in world history (Solinger, 1999; Rozelle et al., 1999). Despite the rapid expansion of labor migration, China’s work force is still disproportionately employed in agriculture compared to other countries at similar levels of per-capita GDP (Taylor and Martin, 2001). Hence, as China’s economy continues to expand, the flow of labor to urban areas will continue and even accelerate (Johnson, 1999). The massive flow of labor away from farms has intensified research interest in China’s migration in recent years. However, as in the broader literature on migration in less developed countries, most recent studies on China’s migration have focused on determining the size and composition of the labor flow, macroeconomic implications of increased migration, and the effects of migration on urban areas (Zhao, 1999; Yang, 1999; 1997). Less emphasis has been placed on researching the effects of migration on the rural communities that migrants leave, even though evidence shows that the rural household in the village of origin is typically the central concern of all those involved in migration– both those who leave and those who stay behind (exceptions include Wang and Zuo, 1999; Bai, 2001). Moreover, the recent increase in migration has left policy makers particularly concerned regarding the way source communities will be affected (MOA, 1999). They are concerned that as labor flows away from farms, food production and crop income will decline, potentially threatening China’s food security. Furthermore, policy makers are concerned about the increasing gap between urban and rural household incomes. If migration exacerbates this gap, some fear that as it grows rural residents eventually will flood cities ill-equipped to absorb them. Others fear that discontent over a rising urban-rural income gap could even spill over into political unrest (Yang, 1999). Because China’s markets and other modern economic institutions are still relatively undeveloped, migration may play a pivotal role in creating or overcoming constraints caused by the lack of well-functioning markets and/or institutions (Knight and Song, 1999; Benjamin and Brandt, 2000). The “new economics of labor migration” (NELM) literature analyzes migration as a household decision rather than as an individual decision (Stark, 1991). The NELM hypothesizes that rural households facing imperfect market environments decide