Social Support and the Adoption of Climate‐Smart Agriculture: A Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT We provide a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of the empirical literature on social support and the adoption of climate‐smart agriculture (CSA). Based on a meta‐regression analysis of 1541 estimates drawn from 145 primary studies, our baseline results indicate a positive and statistically significant mean association between social support and CSA adoption, which remains robust after correcting for publication selection bias using the FAT‐PET‐PEESE approach. However, the main finding of our analysis is substantial effect heterogeneity across support mechanisms and institutional contexts. Informational support exhibits a consistently positive and robust association, whereas instrumental support is positive but more sensitive to publication selection and institutional conditions. In contrast, emotional support shows no statistically significant mean effect once publication bias is taken into account. Further heterogeneity analyses suggest that the effectiveness of social support varies systematically with contextual conditions, particularly generalized trust, creditor rights protection, regional characteristics, and population composition. By jointly accounting for publication selection bias, mechanism‐specific support channels, and institutional heterogeneity, our results help reconcile the mixed and sometimes contradictory evidence in the existing CSA adoption literature. Our findings provide a structured evidence base for designing targeted, institutionally appropriate CSA policies that prioritize information‐based support while tailoring material interventions to local conditions.