Factors influencing the adoption of climate smart agricultural practices in Rukungiri District

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to assess the determinants of climate-smart agriculture adoption among smallholder farmers in Rukungiri District. A cross-sectional research design was employed, and data were collected from a sample of 96 farmers using structured questionnaires. Both descriptive statistics and inferential analyses, including chi-square tests, probit, and multivariate probit regression models, were used to examine the influence of household and institutional factors on CSA adoption. The results indicated that socio-demographic characteristics such as age, education, household size, farm size, gender, and income significantly affected the likelihood of adopting CSA practices. Institutional factors including access to agricultural extension services, credit, training, and membership in farmer associations were also found to be strong predictors of adoption. Among CSA practices, mulching, composting, and cover cropping were the most commonly adopted, while small-scale irrigation recorded the lowest uptake. The study concludes that both individual capacity and institutional support are critical for enhancing CSA adoption. It recommends strengthening agricultural extension services, improving access to affordable credit, promoting farmer training programs, and supporting farmer associations to increase the uptake of climate-smart practices and improve resilience to climate change.