Influence of perceived climate change-related factors on sustained adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies in the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2023-08-26
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The sub Saharan Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (SJSSH)
Abstract
In the West Usambara Mountains Tanzania, crop production is highly challenged by climate change and variability due to farmers’ dependence on rainfall and the use of poor technologies. Between 2011 and 2019, the Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) was implemented to promote the adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural (CSA) technologies in the West Usambara Mountains. Understanding farmers’ perceptions of climate change can enhance participation and adoption of sustainability of CSA technologies when the project is phased out. This study assessed the influence of perceived climate change-related factors on the sustained adoption of CSA technologies at the end of the CCAFs project. A cross-sectional research design was conducted by involving 124 households selected by simple random sampling from 140 farming households which received CSA interventions. Primary data were collected through household questionnaire survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions while secondary data was obtained from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority. Data analysis employed STATA software version 17 to run the Multivariate Probit Regression model for quantitative data while content analysis was employed for qualitative data. Results show that a perceived increase in pests and diseases had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of tree planting and weather information. Increased floods had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of terraces and tree planting. Unpredictable rainfall had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of organic fertilizers and weather information. Increased droughts had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of organic fertilizers and improved seeds. The increased temperature had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of weather information. It is concluded that farmers’ perceptions of climate change are important to enhance the sustainable adoption of CSA technologies. It is recommended that policymakers and other stakeholders incorporate farmers’ perceptions of climate change when reviewing post-project interventions and designing new projects to enhance participation, sustainability of adoption of CSA technologies and improve crop productivity.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
perceptions, farmers, climate change, climate-smart agricultural technology, sustained adoption
Citation
https://www.sua.ac.tz/announcements/call-article-manuscripts-east-african-journal-social-sciences-and-humanities-eajssh