Limited Income and Climate-Smart Agriculture Adoption Among Women Smallholder Farmers in Baringo South Sub-County

Abstract

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has emerged as a critical approach for enhancing agricultural productivity, strengthening resilience to climate change, and reducing environmental degradation. However, the adoption of CSA practices among women smallholder farmers remains uneven, particularly in semi-arid regions like Baringo South Sub-County where financial constraints limit access to agricultural innovations. This study examines how the level of income influences the adoption of climate-smart agriculture among women smallholder farmers in Baringo South Sub-County, Kenya. The study seeks to determine the relationship between household income levels and the uptake of CSA practices such as water conservation, agroforestry, drought-tolerant crop varieties, conservation agriculture, and improved livestock management. The research design used was correlation research design whereby a study sample size of 128 women participants was selected using a simple random sampling procedure.15 Key informants were also interviewed totaling to 143 respondents. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and interviews. The study was guided by the premise that income affected farmers' ability to access resources, agricultural inputs, information, and technologies necessary for implementing climate-smart practices. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically correlation and regression analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically.  The study results indicated that income shows a positive, moderate effect on women’s participation (R=0.355, R²=0.126). This indicated that income frequently constrains women’s ability to purchase CSA inputs, reinforcing existing evidence that upfront costs remain a major barrier to adoption. Higher-income women farmers are more likely to adopt CSA technologies due to greater financial capacity, while lower-income farmers face significant barriers to adoption. The study will contribute to understanding the socioeconomic factors influencing climate adaptation in agriculture and provide recommendations for policymakers, development partners, and agricultural extension services on strategies to enhance CSA adoption among women farmers. Ultimately, the research aims to support sustainable agricultural development, improved livelihoods, and climate resilience in Baringo South Sub-County.