Submitted | Adoption Levels of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices through Agricultural Innovation Systems among Women Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania
Updated: Sep 4
Ndossi, M.J. Ahmad, K.A. Makindara, J.R. and Duodu, K.G.
Abstract: The study examined the adoption levels of selected climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices among women smallholder farmers based on the influence of their interactions with and within Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS). A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. A household survey was conducted to collect data from 278 randomly selected respondents. In addition, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to generate qualitative insights. A composite adoption index comprising 20 CSA practices was constructed to measure adoption levels. The results reveal significant variation in the adoption of CSA practices. Those practices with immediate and visible productivity benefits, such as drought-tolerant seed varieties and improved post-harvest handling, exhibited relatively high adoption levels. In contrast, practices requiring long-term investment and technical support, such as rainwater harvesting, conservation agriculture, agroforestry, and mulching, recorded high non-adoption rates. Financial constraints, technical complexity, and limited institutional support were the main barriers to adoption. Furthermore, structural constraints, including limited access to productive resources and weak institutional linkages, were found to reduce women farmers' capacity to adopt CSA practices. The study argues that strengthening
Agricultural Innovation Systems through improved access to extension services, financial support, and institutional coordination are essential for enhancing the adoption of CSA practices. Furthermore, promoting inclusive agricultural innovation requires addressing gender-specific barriers that limit women’s participation.
Keywords: Climate Smart Agricultural Practice; Agricultural Innovation Systems;
Women farmers; Adoption level; East Africa
