Farmer training and extension access drive climate-smart farming uptake
Toboyee J, Molle MN, Peprah K, Aabeyir R, Saaka SA
Climate Adaptation
The techniques that help farmers cope with drought and shrinking harvests spread fastest not because of better seeds or tools, but because someone showed up to teach them, a lesson that applies just as much to a community garden program as a rural cooperative.
Researchers asked 400 small farmers in a dry part of Ghana why some of them started using farming methods designed to handle climate change, like better water management or soil practices, while others didn't. It turned out that farmers who had visits from agricultural advisors, got hands-on training, or had more schooling were far more likely to try these new methods. Simply knowing the practices could boost yields and cut costs also made a big difference in whether farmers gave them a shot.
Key Findings
Access to agricultural extension services strongly predicted adoption of climate-smart practices (OR=10.358, p<0.001), as did belief that the practices would improve crop yields (OR=10.356, p<0.001).
Formal education increased the likelihood of adoption nearly 9-fold (OR=9.262, p<0.001), while farmers aged 26-45 were less likely to adopt than older farmers (OR=0.050, p<0.05).
CSA-specific training (OR=4.374, p<0.05) and expected reduction in input costs (OR=4.855, p<0.05) were also significant motivators.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A survey of 400 farmers in semi-arid Ghana found that access to agricultural extension services, training, and formal education were the biggest drivers of whether farmers adopted climate-smart farming practices, more so than age or other factors.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Challenges to the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices among smallholder farmers in semi-arid Ghana.
With the increasing recognition of climate change threats to agricultural productivity and food security, it is crucial to explore farming practices that increase productivity, adapt to the effects...
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