Factors Influencing Adoption Intensity and Speed of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices among Smallholder Farmers in Tharaka Nithi County, Eastern Kenya

This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption intensity and speed of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices among smallholder farmers in Maara and Tharaka South Sub Counties, Eastern Kenya. The region faces severe threats from climate change, including unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, and declining crop yields, posing significant risks to food security. CSA offers a promising solution to these challenges by enhancing agricultural productivity and incomes, building resilience, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the study's importance. Despite these benefits, CSA adoption rates among smallholder farmers remain limited. This research aims to bridge the gap in understanding the drivers of adoption intensity (adoption of diverse CSA practices) and speed (the period between awareness and implementation of these practices). A quantitative cross-sectional design assessed the influence of socioeconomic, economic, institutional, environmental, technological, sociocultural factors and information dissemination methods on CSA adoption. The sample included 412 smallholder farmers from two sub-counties in Tharaka Nithi County, proportionally sampled. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and inferential techniques such as one-way ANOVA, hierarchical multiple regression, and independent samples t-tests. Findings revealed that economic and technological factors and effective information dissemination, mainly through interpersonal and organizational channels, significantly impacted the intensity of CSA adoption. Farmers with higher incomes and access to technological resources were more likely to adopt multiple practices. Interpersonal communication, such as farmer-to-farmer interactions, proved most effective in encouraging adoption. Additionally, the influence of geographical disparities was noted, with farmers in Maara Sub County exhibiting greater adoption intensity than those in Tharaka South. Regarding adoption speed, older farmers and those with higher monthly incomes adopted CSA practices faster. Interpersonal communication also accelerated adoption speed. Notably, no significant gender differences were found in adoption intensity or speed, suggesting that both male and female farmers had similar opportunities and capacities to adopt CSA practices. This research offers practical guidance for policymakers and agricultural extension practitioners by recommending improvements to extension services. It stresses personalized farmer-to-farmer communication and economic and technological support for smallholders. Additionally, it highlights the need for targeted interventions addressing geographical disparities to ensure equitable CSA adoption across regions. Future research should explore additional factors influencing CSA adoption in other agroecological zones to develop more effective strategies for promoting sustainable agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. In conclusion, this study enriches the growing body of literature on CSA by providing insights into adoption dynamics among smallholder farmers in Maara and Tharaka South sub-counties, emphasizing the pivotal role of economic, technological, and communication factors in facilitating CSA adoption amidst climate change challenges.