Understanding impacts and barriers to adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices in North-Western Nigerian drylands

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Empirical evidence suggests that climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices will promote resilience against climate change. We explored location-specific CSA practices and strategies for adoption in two communities (Zango and Kofa) in the North-Western Nigerian drylands.

Design/methodology/approach: Mixed methods design was employed with thirty smallholders per community selected from a baseline study of 220 smallholders from the two study communities. Smallholders were engaged in a farmer participatory learning and action (PLA) on CSA adoption for resilience. Impacts of PLA were evaluated six months post-implementation and barriers for adoption explored.

Findings: Pre- and post-PLA training indicated a change in confidence to adopt some CSA practices. Both communities showed greater confidence (p < .05) related to solving climate-related problems and the use of fertiliser. Communities differed in relation to other factors: Kofa exhibited improved confidence (71.4%) in solving water challenges while Zango showed greater confidence (76%) in relation to solving environmental problems. We found gender-responsive CSA promote women participation in farming.

Practical implications: A deep understanding of the underlying reasoning behind non-adoption of CSA practices could support future climate resilience policies, and the lead-farmer extension model could reduce extension agent-farmer ratio.

Theoretical implications: Identification of climate-smart agriculture practices and their adoption confirms the benefit of participatory learning for transformation, in this case, empowerment of smallholders, including women, to adapt to climate change in a wider sub-Saharan Africa context.

Originality/value: This study explores PLA application in supporting the uptake of CSA practices for resilience and advancement of lead-farmer extension for reducing extension agent-farmer ratio.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Participatory learning and action (PLA)
• extension
• smallholders
• climate-smart agriculture
• adaptation
• barriers

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nugun P. Jellason

Dr Nugun P. Jellason is a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading. Nugun works with Professor Elizabeth J.Z. Robinson on the Social and Environmental Trade-offs for African Agriculture (Sentinel) Project on understanding the socio-economic impacts of agricultural expansion in Ethiopia, Ghana and Zambia.

John S. Conway

Dr John S. Conway is formally a Principal Lecturer at the Royal Agricultural University Cirencester teaching Soil and Environmental Science until 2019. John is currently acting as vice-chair [operations] and treasurer of NADP and an Editor of The Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and Higher Education.

Richard N. Baines

Dr Richard N. Baines is a Senior Lecturer in International Rural Development and Agri-Food Systems at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester. Richard's research interests encompass two converging themes: agricultural and rural development with special reference to emerging economies and Africa; and, the management of food safety and quality for agricultural production in response to legislation, the food chain and consumers.