Assessing climate-smart agricultural practices and socioeconomic determinants in Atwima Kwanwoma District, Ghana

This study assesses the awareness, adoption, and impact of Climate-Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of Ghana. The findings reveal a high level of awareness among farmers, with 95.17 % of men and 93.33 % of women familiar with the concept of CSA. Approximately 95.00 % and 93.00 % of both male and female respondents acknowledged its benefits, such as improved crop yields and climate change mitigation. The study identifies 15 prioritized CSA practices, with crop diversification ranked highest ( RII =0.935), followed by appropriate fertilizer use ( RII =0.828), and mulching ( RII =0.779). The use of climate-resilient seed varieties was least prioritized ( RII =0.413). The adoption of these practices is significantly influenced by socioeconomic characteristics, including age, household size, educational level, etc. Specifically, age negatively influenced the adoption of crop diversification, decreasing the probability by 8.1 % points for each one-year increase in age, and also negatively impacted the adoption of windbreaks and shelterbelts (86.5 % point decrease) and climate-resilient seed varieties (15.6 % point decrease). Household size positively influenced the adoption of appropriate fertilizer use (10.5 % points increase), mulching (9.41 % points increase), and integrated crop-livestock practices (10.5 % points increase), highlighting the role of family labor. Educational level negatively influenced the adoption of integrated pest management practices (9.3 % points decrease) and drought-resistant crop varieties (12.0 % points decrease). The study concludes with several actionable policy implications. For instance, targeted educational programs should be implemented to increase awareness and understanding of CSA practices, especially focusing on less adopted practices like the use of climate-resilient seed varieties.