Enhancing Climate-Smart Agriculture: The Role of Farm Input Accessibility in Selected Smallholder Enterprises in Lamu County, Kenya

Purpose: To investigate access to different farm input and Climate-Smart Agriculture technology adoption across various agricultural value chains. Materials and Methods: Key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a semi-structured questionnaire were used to collect the data from 304 participants who included Lead farmers, extension officers and Smallholders farmers. The data collection exercise was carried from august to October 2022. Analysis was done using R software (v4.4.1). Findings: High adoption rates of improved breeds across value chains: cotton (96.4%), dairy (88.4%), cashew (74.3%), and poultry (64.6%). Direct purchase was the main predominant input acquisition method, particularly among cotton (82.1%) and cashew farmers (74.3%). Alternative acquisition strategies included borrowing from peers (notably cashew at 31.4% and dairy at 28.3%), input hiring (highest in cotton at 14%), and modification of existing inputs (highest in poultry at 29.4%). Welch T-test results (t=0.632, p>0.05) indicated no significant difference between individual and group-based input acquisition approaches. Organizing farmers into value chains or producer communities did not significantly enhance input access or utilization, and therefore, had minimal impact on improving Climate-Smart Agriculture adoption outcomes. Unique contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Integrate innovative targeted input subsidy programs that bundle complementary inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides) into complete and accessible packages to promote holistic adoption. Implementing mobile-based inventory tracking for rural agro-dealers can prevent stockouts and provide farmers with real-time input availability via SMS alerts.