A Review of Climate-Smart Agriculture Technology Adoption by Farming Households in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Climate change is a major constraint to the progress of Africa’s agriculture, food, and nutrition security; its effect is tied to geographical position and driven by the limited adaptive capacity of the agricultural households. The most vulnerable stakeholder group are the smallholder farming households with limited resources and knowledge of adaptation and mitigation techniques. Sub-Saharan Africa owns more than 60% of the world’s arable land with over 85% of the farmers being smallholder farmers, who are predisposed to various risks. This paper analyzes the adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) processes and technologies by smallholder farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study used mixed methods and an integrative literature review. This review indicated that the knowledge of CSA technologies by smallholder farmers in Africa is increasing and, thus, concerted efforts to continuously generate CSA technology would contribute to the desired positive outcome. To accelerate the pace of adoption and use of the technologies, the linkage of farmers, researchers, and extension practitioners is needed. Measures should also be put in place to ensure that CSA actions are implemented using bottom-up approaches.

Knowledge, Attitude and the Practice of Climate-Smart Agriculture among Smallholder Farmers in Isingiro District, South Western Uganda

“…This has increased information dissemination within rural communities. Increasing awareness of CSA processes and technologies in Africa was also reported by Kombat et al (2021). On the other hand, the low level of farmers' knowledge about rainwater harvesting was also reported by Onwonga et al (2013) and Oppong et al (2021) in Kenya and Ghana, respectively.…”

Climate-Smart Conservation Agriculture, Farm Values and Tenure Security: Implications for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Congo Basin

“…Though not necessarily formal titling, tenure security is associated with tropical cropland conservation practices and improvements. Reports such as Kombat et al (2021), Amadu et al (2020), Akugre et al (2021) as well as Geist & Lambin (2002) document that customary land tenure institutions, greater population pressure and poor access to markets are significant causes of land conversion to agriculture, and hence to loss of trees. Private ownership of converted land promotes greater integration of trees and crops and leads to the highest density of trees on agricultural land.…”

“…Secure, long-term rights of access to land, particularly in the form of locally recognized use rights, create an incentive for people to make landscape-improving investments (Azadi et al, 2021; Jellason et al, 2021). For example, terracing or other investments in soil erosion control are generally associated with secure, long-term rights to land in some regions of SSA (Kombat et al, 2021; Mangaza et al, 2021). The right to at least bequeath, if not sell parcels, increases the likelihood that a farmer makes at least one long-term improvement on a parcel of land.…”

“…In all three countries, tree plots are largely inherited, highlighting the socio-cultural importance of tree resources in farmlands. Tenure security which has to be at the heart of any agricultural development plan is achieved when property rights are clarified and widely acknowledged (Jellason et al, 2021; Kombat et al, 2021; Mangaza et al, 2021; Brawn, 2017; Andersson 2007). In most cases, progress will consist of (a) the reconciliation of diverse and conflicting claims, (b) the clarification of latent or overlapping rights in resources, and (c) the reconciliation of statutory and customary regimes.…”

An Outlook on Harnessing Technological Innovative Competence in Sustainably Transforming African Agriculture

“…[46] This is critical in bridging sources of knowledge and fostering open innovation. [47,[60][61][62][63][64][65] The domain knowledge will enable the farmers to make informed decisions when adopting and adapting technology to suit local conditions and contexts. African farmers have exhibited a willingness to experiment with new approaches and technologies as well as being resourceful and adaptive, employing creative problem-solving techniques to address challenges in agriculture.…”