Factors driving the adoption of climate-smart Agriculture Practices Promoted by the Private Sector among Women Farmer Groups in Kitui West Subcounty, Kitui County, Kenya

Abstract

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has been promoted as a smart way of improving farm productivity. However, adoption levels have been low despite concerted efforts by both public and private sector actors. This has been attributed to reduced access to extension services, credit, and markets, especially by women farmer groups who make a significant contribution to the adoption of CSA. By actively involving women, the private sector-led model has far-reaching benefits in that women are usually organised into farmer groups, learn easily, and therefore adopt sustainable agricultural practices with ease. Guided by Diffusion of Innovation Theory, this study explored the potential of women farmer groups in driving the uptake of private sector-led adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices. A mixed-method approach was used, where qualitative research entailed data collection through interviews with 19 women farmer groups, private sector representatives, and stakeholders, while the quantitative method involved administering questionnaires to 196 farmers. Collected data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results indicated that women farmers belonging to organised groups were more likely to adopt CSA practices than non-members (p < .05). The findings also revealed that women farmer groups play a facilitative role by enabling peer learning, resource pooling, and collective engagement with private sector actors. Results showed that women with access to institutional support, particularly extension and credit services, were more likely to adopt CSA practices than those without such support (p < .05). The study recommends strengthening private sector–led training and extension initiatives with a deliberate focus on women farmer groups. Second, policies should prioritise the formation and strengthening of women farmer groups as a strategy for scaling CSA practices. Third, government and development partners should enhance access to affordable credit and inputs through gender-responsive financing mechanisms to address key institutional barriers.