The impact of ICT-based weather information services on the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies in Balaka District, Malawi: A recursive bivariate probit model

The current study investigated the impact of using information and communication technology-based weather information services on the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies. Working within the context of the technology acceptance model and random utility theory, a recursive bivariate probit model was employed on 330 farm households sampled from the Balaka District in southern Malawi. Both the marginal effects and the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) show that the use of ICT-based weather information services positively affects the adoption of shifting planting dates, income diversification and irrigation farming. The significant positive marginal effects and ATT underscore the important role of ICT-based weather information services in fostering climate resilience among farmers. Consequently, the study recommends the promotion of ICT through targeted interventions to enhance the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies. The intervention can be in the form of community workshops and training to educate communities on the use of ICT tools.