Climate-Smart Agricultural Practice Adoption and Its Determinants Among Smallholder Farmers in West Belesa District, Northwest Ethiopia

Climate change represents a profound global crisis and the most significant threat to contemporary agricultural systems. This study evaluates the adoption status of Climate-Smart agricultural (CSA) practices among smallholder households and identifies the key factors influencing their adoption in the West Belesa district of Northwest Ethiopia. This study justifies the gaps in CSA adoption. Using a stratified random sampling technique, 400 respondents were selected. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, collecting primary quantitative data through structured surveys, which were then cross-verified with qualitative insights from Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model to isolate the specific economic and institutional drivers of adoption. The results show that 56.3% of the sampled households have adopted at least one CSA practice. However, a significant gender gap was identified, with only 50.5% of female-headed households adopting these practices compared to higher rates among their male counterparts (62%). The binary logit model reveals that adoption is positively, negatively and significantly influenced by farming experience (B = 0.104, odds = 1.110), age (B = −0.065, odds = 0.937),family size (B = −0.216,odds = 0.805), frequency of extension contact (B = −1.721,odds = 0.179), and access to credit (B = −2.073,odds = 0.126). Furthermore, the decision to adopt is strongly tied to the farmer’s information needs and their perception of the technology’s ability to boost productivity.