Abstract:
Increasing weather risks threaten agricultural production systems and food security across
the world. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) has therefore been presented as wide range of
agricultural practices including cash crops based inter-cropping (CCI) technologies that
have the potential to increase food production, incomes and adaptive capacity of the
smallholders through interlinked markets, as well as reduce emissions or enhance carbon
storage in agricultural soils and biomass. This paper aims to investigate smartness of cash
crop based inter-cropping climate smart agricultural practices and determinants on
adoption of the best CCI CSA option among smallholders in Jello sub catchment, Western
Hararghe Highlands, Ethiopia. Survey questionnaire were conducted and statistical
quantitative data were generated from 178 smallholder farmers selected through random
sampling and then follow-up key informant interview and focus group discussions to probe
or explore the result in more depth. Various descriptive and inferential statistic techniques
were applied to analyze the collected survey data. Binary Logistic Regression model was
used to analyze the determinant factors of smallholders adoption of best CCI option. In this
study smallholder who practiced the combination of “Khat-Sorghum-Haricot Bean” intercropping
considered as “the adopter” and a combination of either “Sorghum/Maize-
Haricot Bean” or “Khat-Sorghum/Maize” inter-cropping option considered as the “nonadopter”
of best CCI option. The majority 59.6% of the sampled farmers were adopter
while 40.4% of smallholders were non-adopter. Active family member, farm income,
formal education, land certification, extension and trainings variable were statistically
significant and positively influence household heads decision to adopt CCI CSA option.
Furthermore, family size, number of livestock, and perception of farm plot suitability,
number of farm parcels were significant and negatively influence household heads
decision. This paper argues that active family members, formal education, trainings
through improved extension service and access to land certification can strengthen climate
smart farm activities that bolster farm income are required to boost adoption of climate
smart agricultural practices.
