An assessment of willingness for adoption of climate-smart agriculture (Csa) practices through the farmers’ adaptive capacity determinants

Abstract

Climate-change-related impacts on the agriculture sector have been intensifying in the Asian region particularly for developing countries. In order to encourage innovative adaptation practices, it is critical to understand the farmers’ perspectives on the possibility of adopting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) measures and the obstacles they face. However, limited studies have considered how farmers respond to climate change impacts, and concerning to this, the opportunities in the relevance of resilience via adaptive capacity (AC) were addressed. This study investigates the adoption of climate-smart agriculture in Punjab, Pakistan by using a survey of 420 farmers, with a view to understanding the farmers’ practices, adaptive capacity to respond, and willingness for the adoption of climate-smart agriculture measures to mitigate the climate change impact. Driving factors of the farm households’ intended to the adoption of climate-smart agriculture were examined using a logistic model. The results of the study showed that the drivers of adaptive capacity such as the human, physical, natural, financial and social capacity of the farm households were significantly determinant to the possibility of adopting climate-smart agriculture measures. Further, we also identified lack of institutional support and a lack of information were the major obstacles for adopting these innovative measures. This study suggested that climate-policy should be designed in a regional context specifically focusing on the institutional services and access to the resources. It is the best way to increase the acceptance for the adoption of these innovative measures by increasing the farmers’ adaptive capacity endowment.