Socio-economic Factors Influencing Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture Among Maize Smallholder Farmers in Kalambo District, Tanzania

Abstract

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) has the potential to improve production, reduce
food security and reduce the impacts of climate change. However, the adoption
of CSA in maize production is still very low in Kalambo District. The study was
conducted to assess socio-economic determinants of CSA adoption by
smallholder maize farmers. Specifically, the study was conducted to assess the
socio-economic characteristics of smallholder maize farmers and analyse socio-
economic determinants of smallholder maize farmers’ adoption of CSA. The study
employed a cross-sectional research design, and multistage sampling technique
was employed to select Rukwa Region, Kalambo district, wards and villages. A
sample size of 395 respondents was determined by using Yamane’s formula, and
a household survey questionnaire was used to collect data using a household
questionnaire. The study adopted quantitative techniques whereby data were
analysed descriptively and inferentially; for the latter, binary logistic regression
was done. The results indicated that four variables, education, household size,
access to information about CSA, and maize farming experience, out of ten
variables which were entered in the model, were significant predictors of
adoption of CSA by smallholder maize farmers (p < 0.05). It is concluded that
the four socio-economic factors are the ones that mainly influence smallholder
maize farmers to adopt or not to adopt CSA. It is recommended that, in order to
increase the number of smallholder farmers adopting CSA, extension officers
should create awareness among smallholder maize farmers about maize CSA in
order for them to make an informed decision to adopt it. Also, smallholder maize
farmers should be trained on CSA technologies for maize farming as education
has been proven to enhance their chances of adopting CSA.