Factors Affecting Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Innovations among Smallholder Sorghum Farmers in Soin Sigowet Sub County, Kericho County

Drought has substantially affected agricultural productivity in Kenya. For example, farmers experience income losses due to reduced crop yields, deterioration in crop quality, insect infestations, including recent locust outbreaks in Kenya, high irrigation costs, plant diseases and a reduction in productive, arable land. Persistent drought in parts of Kenya has created a need for coping strategies, including growing alternative crops and the adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural (CSA) innovations. KALRO has been promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations in sorghum production in Kericho County to increase production and alleviate food insecurity among small-scale farmers. However, despite these efforts, production levels have remained low. The study hypothesised that limited adoption of CSA innovations among farmers may be a contributing factor. The study examined the socioeconomic and institutional factors that influence the adoption of these CSA innovations among smallholder sorghum farmers in Soin Sigowet Sub-County, Kericho County. A descriptive survey research design was used, and a multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 239 respondents from a population of 629. Both structured and unstructured questionnaires were used in data collection. A binary logistic regression model was analysed to determine the factors affecting the adoption of CSAs. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25. The results indicated that land size (p =0.000, β =1.237), years of schooling (p =0.000, β =1.877) and household size (p =0.007|β =0.319) significantly and positively influenced the adoption of CSA innovations. However, the age of the household head (p =0.002, β =-0.15) significantly and negatively influenced the adoption of CSA innovations. The study recommends that more farmers receive training in the use of CSA interventions. Furthermore, policymakers should develop policy directives that encourage intensification of farm production that could increase agricultural production and incomes among small-scale farmer households.