Abstract
The agriculture sector, heavily reliant on rainfall, faces significant challenges due to climate change, particularly in developing countries where it supports many communities. In response, climate-smart agricultural practices have been developed to address these adverse effects. Numerous factors influence the adoption of climate-smart practices, particularly membership in local farm groups. This study aims to examine the determinants that influence the decisions of farm households to participate in local farm groups and adopt climate-smart agricultural practices in the Rakai district of Uganda. The used data were collected through a cross-sectional survey involving 343 farm households, and the joint factors affecting their decisions were analyzed using a bivariate probit regression model. The econometric analysis indicates that several factors, including gender, land ownership, access to extension services, the ability to utilize climate information, the sharing of climate information with non-household members, experiences of drought-related climate shocks, and the use of autonomous climate change adaptation strategies, positively influence farm households’ decisions to join local farm groups and adopt climate-smart agricultural practices. Consequently, development actors should facilitate the formation of local farm groups and encourage the active participation of farm households to promote the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices systematically. The membership in local farm groups and adopting climate-smart agricultural practices are mutually reinforcing. Moreover, enhancing the awareness and knowledge of farm households through disseminating relevant climate information by local farm groups is essential for fostering informed decision-making in agricultural practices.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Technical, Political, and Social Responses
KEYWORDS
Farm Households, Local Farm Groups, Climate-smart Agriculture, Bivariate Probit
