FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOPTION OF CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE AS A CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN TIGANIA WEST, MERU COUNTY, KENYA
Nickson Wafula Okoth - Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. John Mbugua - Lecturer, Department of Open Learning Programmes, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to investigate factors influencing adoption of climate-smart agriculture as a climate change adaptation in Tigania West-Meru County Kenya. The study was guided by four specific objectives, which were: To assess how land ownership system influences adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Tigania west Sub County; To determine how information access influences adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Tigania west Sub County; To determine how agricultural financial services access influences adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Tigania west Sub County and lastly, to determine how agricultural inputs market access influences adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Tigania West Sub County. The study was guided by the Sustainable development theory. The research design used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design with a sample size of 382 farmers that was sampled from a target population of 60,040 farmers using the Fisher’s model sample size determination. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select respondents from the five wards. The data collection tool was a structured questionnaire, focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and inferential statistical analysis (correlation and multiple regression) were done, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Qualitative data that was obtained from the focus group discussions and the key informants was used to complement the quantitative data and be presented in narrative format. The research was relevant to Agricultural extension officers and other like-minded agencies in environmental conservation that got relevant insights that informed them to review their strategies and approaches in their quest to combat climate change. The study found that the farmer’s main sources of CSA information were through other farmers. The study found that most of the farmers did not own their land and had between 1 - 5 acres of farming land. The study also found that all the farmers had access to credit to finance their farming business and accessed the credit through table banking/group savings & loaning. The study found that the farmers mostly got information of the inputs to buy from other farmers. The study concluded that land ownership system had the greatest influence on adoption of climate-smart agriculture in Tigania West in Kenya followed by agricultural inputs market access, then information access while agricultural financial services access had the least influence on the adoption of climate-smart agriculture in Tigania West in Kenya. The study recommended that that National and County governments to revamp extension initiatives bearing in mind the current technologies, make CSA implements accessible and provide a conducive environment for inputs and outputs market to operate efficiently. Further, there is a need for farmers to embrace collective action to mobilize resources through table banking, cost-sharing, collective input purchasing and collective output marketing.