Factors Affecting Multiple Climate Change Adaptation Practices of Smallholder Farmers in lower Eastern Kenya

The study investigated factors influencing uptake of multiple climate change adaptation practices among smallholder farmers. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 384 small-scale farmers. Percentage and regression were used in the analysis. The empirical results indicated complementarity among all the adaptation practices (i.e. integrated farming system, intercropping, crop rotation, conservation agriculture, agroforestry, crop diversification and water harvesting). Among the socio-economic factors, age and household size had significant and differing effects on all the adaptation practices. Among the institutional factors, distance to markets positively or negatively influenced uptake of all the technologies. The study, therefore, calls for agricultural policy reforms that aim at designing incentive programs which adequately address most of the issues related to uptake of adaptation practices as well as encouraging off-farm diversification. Keywords: Adoption, agricultural technologies; smallholder farmer

Factors Affecting Multiple Climate Change Adaptation Practices of Smallholder Farmers in lower Eastern Kenya

The study investigated factors influencing uptake of multiple climate change adaptation practices among smallholder farmers. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 384 small-scale farmers. Percentage and regression were used in the analysis. The empirical results indicated complementarity among all the adaptation practices (i.e. integrated farming system, intercropping, crop rotation, conservation agriculture, agroforestry, crop diversification and water harvesting). Among the socio-economic factors, age and household size had significant and differing effects on all the adaptation practices. Among the institutional factors, distance to markets positively or negatively influenced uptake of all the technologies. The study, therefore, calls for agricultural policy reforms that aim at designing incentive programs which adequately address most of the issues related to uptake of adaptation practices as well as encouraging off-farm diversification. Keywords: Adoption, agricultural technologies; smallholder farmer

Factors Affecting Multiple Climate Change Adaptation Practices of Smallholder Farmers in lower Eastern Kenya

The study investigated factors influencing uptake of multiple climate change adaptation practices among smallholder farmers. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 384 small-scale farmers. Percentage and regression were used in the analysis. The empirical results indicated complementarity among all the adaptation practices (i.e. integrated farming system, intercropping, crop rotation, conservation agriculture, agroforestry, crop diversification and water harvesting). Among the socio-economic factors, age and household size had significant and differing effects on all the adaptation practices. Among the institutional factors, distance to markets positively or negatively influenced uptake of all the technologies. The study, therefore, calls for agricultural policy reforms that aim at designing incentive programs which adequately address most of the issues related to uptake of adaptation practices as well as encouraging off-farm diversification. Keywords: Adoption, agricultural technologies; smallholder farmer

Adoption Determinants of Adapted Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies Among Smallholder Farmers in Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui Counties of Kenya

The study examined the adoption determinants of adapted climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies among smallholder farmers. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a total sample of 384 households. Percentages and regression were employed in data analysis. The results revealed that 47.4% adapted to climate change using integrated farming system, intercropping, crop rotation and agroforestry. Sex (0.9%), education level (9.2%) significantly influenced adoption of the adaptation strategies. Moreover, information sources such as mobile phones (0.9%), and neighbors/friends (0.2%) negatively affected the adaptation strategies. Future policy should aim at creating more awareness through different information sources and provide local extension services.Keywords: Adaptation, Smallholder farmers, Multinomial Logistic regression model

Adoption Determinants of Adapted Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies Among Smallholder Farmers in Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui Counties of Kenya

The study examined the adoption determinants of adapted climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies among smallholder farmers. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a total sample of 384 households. Percentages and regression were employed in data analysis. The results revealed that 47.4% adapted to climate change using integrated farming system, intercropping, crop rotation and agroforestry. Sex (0.9%), education level (9.2%) significantly influenced adoption of the adaptation strategies. Moreover, information sources such as mobile phones (0.9%), and neighbors/friends (0.2%) negatively affected the adaptation strategies. Future policy should aim at creating more awareness through different information sources and provide local extension services.Keywords: Adaptation, Smallholder farmers, Multinomial Logistic regression model

Adoption Determinants of Adapted Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies Among Smallholder Farmers in Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui Counties of Kenya

The study examined the adoption determinants of adapted climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies among smallholder farmers. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a total sample of 384 households. Percentages and regression were employed in data analysis. The results revealed that 47.4% adapted to climate change using integrated farming system, intercropping, crop rotation and agroforestry. Sex (0.9%), education level (9.2%) significantly influenced adoption of the adaptation strategies. Moreover, information sources such as mobile phones (0.9%), and neighbors/friends (0.2%) negatively affected the adaptation strategies. Future policy should aim at creating more awareness through different information sources and provide local extension services.Keywords: Adaptation, Smallholder farmers, Multinomial Logistic regression model

Determinants of Farmers’ Knowledge on Soil and Water Conservation Technologies in Dry Zones of Central Highlands, Kenya

Agricultural productivity has been on the decline globally and in sub-Saharan Africa. This is as a result of soil nutrient depletion and low soil water availability. To curb this problem various soil and water conservations have been recommended, but there is still low uptake among farmers. The farmer’s knowledge level influences uptake and eventual adoption of these technologies. Therefore, we carried a cross-sectional survey from 400 farming households to assess farmer’s knowledge levels on the selected ISFM and SWC technologies and to determine the household’s socio-economic determinants influencing farmers’ level of knowledge on soil and water conservation technologies in the dry ones of the Central Highlands of Kenya. Knowledge levels were assessed by asking farmers questions that demanded a true or false answer. Knowledge index was then calculated and data analyzed using multinomial logistic regression model. Results showed that majority of the farmers had inadequate and insufficient knowledge on the use and benefits of soil and water conservation technologies. The socio-economic factors that influence knowledge levels of the knowledge-intensive technologies were education level, gender, perceptions on soil fertility, farmer group membership, access to training, farm size, access to credit, livestock keeping, and access to farm equipment. This implies the need to come up with an all-inclusive policy that can be employed in improving farmer’s level of knowledge through the use of more innovative methods of information dissemination. This can be done by strengthening the existing farmer groups, enhancing extension services, and also formulating gender-friendly policies

Determinants of Farmers’ Knowledge on Soil and Water Conservation Technologies in Dry Zones of Central Highlands, Kenya

Agricultural productivity has been on the decline globally and in sub-Saharan Africa. This is as a result of soil nutrient depletion and low soil water availability. To curb this problem various soil and water conservations have been recommended, but there is still low uptake among farmers. The farmer’s knowledge level influences uptake and eventual adoption of these technologies. Therefore, we carried a cross-sectional survey from 400 farming households to assess farmer’s knowledge levels on the selected ISFM and SWC technologies and to determine the household’s socio-economic determinants influencing farmers’ level of knowledge on soil and water conservation technologies in the dry ones of the Central Highlands of Kenya. Knowledge levels were assessed by asking farmers questions that demanded a true or false answer. Knowledge index was then calculated and data analyzed using multinomial logistic regression model. Results showed that majority of the farmers had inadequate and insufficient knowledge on the use and benefits of soil and water conservation technologies. The socio-economic factors that influence knowledge levels of the knowledge-intensive technologies were education level, gender, perceptions on soil fertility, farmer group membership, access to training, farm size, access to credit, livestock keeping, and access to farm equipment. This implies the need to come up with an all-inclusive policy that can be employed in improving farmer’s level of knowledge through the use of more innovative methods of information dissemination. This can be done by strengthening the existing farmer groups, enhancing extension services, and also formulating gender-friendly policies

Determinants of Farmers’ Knowledge on Soil and Water Conservation Technologies in Dry Zones of Central Highlands, Kenya

Agricultural productivity has been on the decline globally and in sub-Saharan Africa. This is as a result of soil nutrient depletion and low soil water availability. To curb this problem various soil and water conservations have been recommended, but there is still low uptake among farmers. The farmer’s knowledge level influences uptake and eventual adoption of these technologies. Therefore, we carried a cross-sectional survey from 400 farming households to assess farmer’s knowledge levels on the selected ISFM and SWC technologies and to determine the household’s socio-economic determinants influencing farmers’ level of knowledge on soil and water conservation technologies in the dry ones of the Central Highlands of Kenya. Knowledge levels were assessed by asking farmers questions that demanded a true or false answer. Knowledge index was then calculated and data analyzed using multinomial logistic regression model. Results showed that majority of the farmers had inadequate and insufficient knowledge on the use and benefits of soil and water conservation technologies. The socio-economic factors that influence knowledge levels of the knowledge-intensive technologies were education level, gender, perceptions on soil fertility, farmer group membership, access to training, farm size, access to credit, livestock keeping, and access to farm equipment. This implies the need to come up with an all-inclusive policy that can be employed in improving farmer’s level of knowledge through the use of more innovative methods of information dissemination. This can be done by strengthening the existing farmer groups, enhancing extension services, and also formulating gender-friendly policies

Factors affecting multiple climate change adaptation practices of smallholder farmers in lower Eastern Kenya

The study investigated the socioeconomic and institutional factors influencing uptake of multiple climate change adaptation practices among smallholder farmers in lower Eastern Kenya. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 384 small-scale farmers. Percentage and regression were used in the analysis. Among the socio-economic factors, gender positively and significantly influenced adoption of conservation agriculture and water harvesting at 5%, respectively. Among the institutional factors, distance to markets positively or negatively influenced uptake of all the technologies at 1% and 5%, respectively. Due to complementarity in adoption of all the seven adaptation practices, age and distance to nearest markets should be considered during technology dissemination. The study, therefore, calls for agricultural policy reforms that aim at designing incentive programmes which adequately address most of the socioeconomic and institutional issues related to uptake of adaptation practices as well as encouraging off-farm diversification