An assessment of participation in climate smart agricultural practices among urban women farmers in Mbarara city Western Uganda

Urban farming integrated with Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices offers a pathway to enhanced food security and climate resilience in rapidly urbanising Uganda. However, the extent of women’s engagement with CSA practices and the factors influencing their participation is not well understood and it is not clear in empirical literature. This study focused on urban women farmers in Mbarara City, Western Uganda. Specifically, it identifies practices currently used, establishes the extent of participation, and determines the factors influencing the adoption of CSA practices. Data were collected from 150 women farmers using a cross-sectional survey. Descriptive statistics and a Likert scale were used to assess the extent of participation, while a Multivariate Probit (MVP) model was employed to identify influencing factors. Results indicated that 74.15% of women farmers had adopted at least one CSA practice, with most being low adopters (0–2 practices) or medium adopters (3–5 practices). Intercropping and mulching were the most commonly adopted practices, while integrated pest management, irrigation, and high-yielding varieties had very low adoption rates. The MVP model revealed that age, membership in social groups, farming experience, farm size, income, access to credit, access to weather information, and marital status positively influenced women’s participation, while family size had a significant negative effect. This study recommends that donors, development institutions, and government agencies consider these factors when designing programs targeting women farmers. Collaborative efforts among agricultural extension services, financial institutions, and community-based organisations are essential to promote inclusive and sustainable adoption of CSA practices in urban settings.