Factors influencing adoption of climatesmart practices by smallholder avocado farmers for integrated watershed conservation
International Journal of Development and Sustainability
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Abstract: This study investigates the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices among avocado growers in the Upper Mara watershed, Kenya. Climate change affects agriculture positively and negatively, and climate-smart agriculture is a strategy that aims to increase productivity, resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This research used a participatory action research design with a cross-sectional approach, and a three-stage purposive sampling procedure to collect data from avocado growers. The study employed descriptive statistics, multinomial logit (MNL) models, regression analysis, and chi-square tests to identify the factors that influence farmers’ adoption of climate-smart practices. The results show that farmers’ education level, access to extension services and credit, information on climate, planting techniques, agroecological settings, and avocado planting duration significantly influence their adoption of climate-smart practices. Grass strip cropping, mulching, intercropping, crop rotation, and agroforestrywere found to be the most effective climate-smart and conservation practices in the Upper Mara watershed. The study recommends providing climate-smart training and policy support to increase the spread of these practices. The main barriers to adoption are a lack of information on adaptation methods and financial constraints. This research can help guide policies and programs aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices in the context of climate change.