Climate Variability and Farm Technology Adoption Decisions among Smallholder Farmers in Pangani River Basin

Abstract

This paper analyses climate variability and farm technology adoption decisions among smallholder farmers in Pangani river basin. Participatory techniques, including interviews, questionnaires and group discussions were used to obtain data. The analysis shows that both the probability and the level of decisions to adopt farm technologies influenced by rainfall and plot-level disturbances, household wealth, institutional factors, distance to the farm plot and input market. The results further show that there were complementarities between farm technologies which are not yet sufficiently exploited. In the light of these findings, government policies, and strategic investment plans should ensure the provision of improved farmer education to generate greater awareness about the multiple benefits of sustainable agricultural practices in the fight against climate change and variability.