Determinants of Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices Adoption among Smallholder Farmers in Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Climate variability has become a major challenge affecting the agricultural sector. Smallholder farmers, particularly in developing countries, are highly vulnerable to climate-related risks because of their limited adaptive capacity. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) provides an approach to improve agricultural productivity while supporting climate adaptation and mitigation. However, the adoption and diffusion of CSA practices remain slow and vary across locations. Therefore, this study examined the determinants of CSA practice adoption among smallholder farmers in Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Northwestern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected from 143 sample households using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with CSA adoption. The results indicate that education level, family size, farm size, access to extension services, and access to credit significantly influence CSA adoption, while household age is negatively associated with adoption. The findings highlight the need to strengthen extension services, improve access to credit and education, and promote locally appropriate CSA practices to enhance agricultural productivity, food security, and smallholder farmers' resilience to climate variability.