Drivers of perceived sustainability of climate smart Agricultural projects in Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

Climate uncertainty challenges the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The sustainability of climate-smart agriculture projects is considered essential for the continued delivery of services to the beneficiary farmers beyond external financing. However, various factors cause climate-smart agriculture projects to fail the sustainability test. This study evaluated the perceived sustainability of climate-smart agriculture projects and the socio-economic and institutional determinants of sustainability. Stratified sampling was used to select 240 climate-smart project participants from the 12 sub-counties in Kakamega County. The study collected primary data using questionnaires and interview schedules from the sample project participants. Most farmers (94%) perceived climate-smart agriculture projects as sustainable. The Ordered Probit results demonstrated that the perceived sustainability of the projects was positively influenced by the number of practices adopted from the project (at P> 0.00 level), the longevity of farmer participation (at P> 0.09 level) and training (at P> 0.06 level); and negatively influenced by legal land ownership status (at P> 0.02 level), farming experience (at P> 0.08 level) and adoption cost (at P> 0.03 level). The study recommends that projects and practices should be designed and developed under a bottom-up approach that allows the initial assessment of local needs. Farmers should be involved right from the onset to reduce unnecessary expenses. Training on innovative agriculture practices should also be tailored to suit farmers’ different needs and capabilities so that farmers become capable and skilled to increase their farm productivity.