DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE PRACTICES BY SMALLHOLDER FARMERS’ IN TOKE KUTAYE DISTRICT, WEST SHEWA ZONE, OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Climate-smart agriculture is expected to play a key role in tackling climate-related challenges to agricultural livelihoods and food systems. However, the implementation of these programs involving efficient, sustainable, and productivity-enhancing technologies and their adoption rate has remained low, particularly among small-scale farmers. The purpose of the study was to analyze determinants of climate-smart agricultural practices adoption in Toke Kutaye district, West Showa Zone, Oromia National Regional State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 384 smallholder farmers. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources. The data were collected through a household survey, a focus group discussion, and a key informant interview. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an econometric model. A multivariate probit model was applied to analyze the determinants of the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices by smallholder farmers. The results of this study indicated that smallholder farmers have adequate awareness about: adoption of CSA practices increases yield and is important to secure food; CSA is needed to control temperature; CSA is needed to mitigate climate change and variability; and income and livelihoods improved and diversified after adoption of CSA practices. The results of the study revealed that the smallholder farmers adopted CSAP such as soil and water conservation, animal manure, agroforestry, crop diversification, and irrigation. The results of the multivariate probit model confirmed that level of education, income, land size, access to credit, access to training, association membership, frequency of extension (Extn) contact, and perception of household head had a positive and significant influence on CSAP by smallholder farmers. On the other hand, the age of household heads and distance to the market had a negative and statistically significant influence on the adoption of CSAP. The study concluded that, even though the smallholder farmers have awareness about climate-smart agriculture and has adopted some climate-smart agriculture in the study area, this is not satisfactory. It is recommended that providing capacity building, increasing extension contact, facilitating credit services, and providing access to training can enhance the adoption of climate agriculture in the study area