Do Community Capitals Influence Climate Adaptation? Critique of Financial, Physical, Human and Social Capital in the Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies among Smallholder Farming Community in Lamu County, Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to establish a framework for testing the community capitals theory and assessing the empirical significance of financial, physical, human, and social capital in the adoption of climate-smart agriculture technologies. Materials and Methods: Data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires administered to 256 randomly selected household heads. An ordinal logistic regression model was employed to analyze the significance of community capitals in climate-smart agriculture adoption. The data is presented in tables. Findings: The results revealed several important findings. Access to finance has a significant positive association with Climate-Smart Agriculture adoption (P<0.001, OR=3.23). Input subsidies are also significantly positively associated with Climate-Smart Agriculture adoption (P=0.001, OR=3.66). Training shows a significant positive association with Climate-Smart Agriculture adoption (P<0.007, OR=2.03). Labor has a highly significant and positive relationship with Climate-Smart Agriculture adoption (P=0.001, OR=8.97). Interaction positively and significantly correlates with higher levels of Climate-Smart Agriculture adoption (P=0.021, OR=4.04). Additionally, empowerment demonstrates a significant positive association with Climate-Smart Agriculture adoption (P=0.006, OR=2.96). Notably, the model challenged the conventional view of finance and labor as independent determinants for climate-smart agriculture adoption, instead positioning them within a social context. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study suggests that climate action programs should prioritize social ties over investments in financial, physical, or human interventions to enhance climate-smart agriculture adoption and promote resilience. Lastly, combining the Community Capital Framework with Social Capital Theory offers a more detailed understanding of the factors influencing Climate-Smart Agriculture adoption, emphasizing the interaction between various types of capital and social dynamics.