Abstract:
Climate change significantly threatens agriculture and food systems in
developing countries, especially in Senegal, where agriculture is vital for
livelihoods and economic advancement. A study investigated the factors
influencing the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations
among smallholder farmers in Koumpentum, Senegal. Through comprehensive
research and multistage random sampling, 270 smallholder farmers were
interviewed using structured questionnaires. The results indicated that 56.3% of
the farmers have adopted CSA practices. Household size, perceived climate
change, and access to climate advisory information positively influenced 70.4%
of farmers to adopt crop rotation. Additionally, the farmer's experience (in years)
and perception of climate change influenced the adoption of conservation
tillage. The study highlights how smallholder-specific characteristics and
external influences interact to determine CSA adoption. Moreover, it
underscores the need for targeted interventions to promote CSA practices,
emphasizing the importance of farmer education, access to climate advisory
services, and capacity building. Based on our findings, the policy
recommendations include aligning CSA innovations with smallholder
preferences and local conditions to enhance adoption rates and strengthen
climate resilience in agricultural systems. Policymakers should integrate CSA into
Senegalese agricultural policy and develop innovative financing mechanisms to
encourage the adoption of adaptation technologies tailored to local contexts to
address current and future climate risks.
Description:
A publication in the Rural Polytechnic Institute of Training and Applied Research (IPR/IFRA) in partnership with the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change and Agriculture of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB)
