Adoption intensity of climate smart agricultural practices in arabica coffee production in Bududa District

Abstract

Uganda is one of the largest producing and exporting countries of coffee in the world and second in Africa, but it continues to experience significant impacts of climate change, including erratic rainfall variability and environmental degradation. This research investigated the determinants of adoption intensity of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices in Arabica coffee production in Bududa district. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted to collect data from 117 respondents, where face to face questionnaire were used to collect the quantitative data of the study. Descriptive statistics such as frequency count and percentages were used to characterize coffee farmers. Tobit regression model was used to assess determinants of adoption intensity of CSA practices. Results showed that majority of the farmers (67.3%) hardly obtained any credit and majority of them (64.5%) never had access to extension services. Majority of the respondents highly adopted the use of shades (71.7%), CBI (76%), mulching (61.5), organic fertilizer (89%), contour trenches (58.9), cover crops (84.6), and stumping (55.5). Tobit regression analysis revealed that farmer’s level of education, access to extension services and marital status showed a positive and significant (P≤0.01), (P≤0.01), and (P≤0.05) influence on adoption intensity of CSA practices, respectively. Years of farming, access to credit, farm size, and farmer’s age showed a negative relationship with adoption intensity of CSA practices. In conclusion, the government of Uganda should intensify extension of adoption of CSA practices among coffee farmers.