Small-scale Farmers’ Adoptions of Climate-smart Agricultural Practices in the Guinean Savanna’s Agroecological Zones

Abstract

Purpose: The Guinean Savanna is the largest agro-productive area in Guinea and the most vulnerable to climate-induced hazards that challenge farming practices and cause crop failures. Subsequently, small-scale farmers have recently lent themselves to climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAPs) as alternatives to maintain food security. Developing such practices has led this study to identify farmers’ know-how of CSAPs and the factors motivating these practices. Research Method: Methods including household surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and field observations were used to collect data from a purposive random sample of 1,500 small-scale farmers in nine agroecological zones susceptible to drought and flood. A multivariate probit model was used to determine factors influencing small-scale farmers’ adoption of CSAPs. Findings: Results show that adoptions of CSAPs were influenced by farmers’ socio-economic characteristics including access to income sources from non-farm activities, holding of livestock and/or a plantation, perceived impacts of climate change, and membership to a farm-based organization. Other factors such as farming experience, educational level, gender and age were also motivating farmers to adopt CSAPs. On the contrary, household size was not significant in adopting CSAPs in the Guinean Savanna. Research Limitations: This study only covers 9 of the 17 agroecological zones that make up the Guinea Savanna. Originality/value: Being the first study that showed an interest in CSAPs in the study area, it provides information that could enhance food security and communities’ resilience.