Determinants of Climate-Smart Agriculture Adoption Among Rice Farmers: Enhancing Sustainability

The use of conventional farming methods, excessive reliance on fertilizers and inputs, and abrupt shifts in climate have raised significant concerns regarding global agricultural production, particularly in developing countries like Nepal. Agriculture products such as rice hold significant importance in Nepal’s agriculture and economy, serving as a staple food and a crucial source of livelihood for its population. Sustainable cultivation and enhancing productivity are imperative for ensuring food security and economic stability in the country. Adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices can minimize detrimental effects, promote sustainability, and enhance resilience towards climate change. We surveyed 200 farmers across four municipalities in the Chitwan District of Nepal to explore the prevalence and socio-economic drivers of the adoption of CSA practices, which include stress-tolerant varieties, efficient water management, and diversified cropping, among others. The results revealed that the adoption of pest-resistant plant varieties was a common CSA practice in the study area. Logistic regression results revealed that the adoption of CSA practices increases with an increase in the education of farmers and membership of climate-related organizations. Similarly, the adoption of CSA practices is negatively associated with an increase in farm size, farmers’ farming experience, and their access to credit facilities. Short-term courses and training could be initiated as a complement to formal education to maximize the adoption of CSA practices. Similarly, climate and farmer-related organizations should be further strengthened to maximize their capacity to facilitate more farmers and provide need-based, timely information flow. This study highlights the potential of CSA to promote sustainability and enhance resilience to climate change, but also identifies barriers such as credit access and the need for tailored policy interventions. Our findings contribute to understanding the dynamics of CSA adoption in vulnerable agricultural settings and can guide future strategies to promote sustainability and climate resilience in smallholder farming communities in developing countries.