Adoption decisions for climate-smart dairy farming practices: Evidence from smallholder farmers in the Salale highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

The adoption rate of climate-smart livestock production in Ethiopia has remained low, despite its potential to increase animal productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding the factors that influence smallholder farmers' (SHFs) decisions to adopt improved practices is crucial for tailoring strategies for stakeholders and policymakers. The present study examines factors that determine adoption and the intensity of adoption of multiple climate-smart dairy (CSD) farming practices, including improved breeds, feed, and feeding conditions, forage, and manure management, using data from 480 SHFs in Salale highlands. The study employed a multivariate probit model (MVP) to analyze the simultaneous adoption of multiple CSD farming practices and an ordered probit model to examine factors influencing the degree of adoption. The results indicate that about 90 ​% of the smallholder farmers have adopted at least two of the CSD farming practices. Improved breed, improved feed, and improved feeding conditions are the most commonly adopted farming practices, whereas improved forage is the least adopted improved practice in the study area. Our result showed that most CSD farming practices have complementary associations. Furthermore, gender, dependency ratio, land size, Tropical Livestock Unit (TLU), off-farm activity, access to extension services, farmer-to-farmer communication, and distance to the nearest market significantly influence smallholder farmers' adoption and intensity of adoption of multiple CSD farming practices. The result suggest that the government bodies should prioritize encouraging the uptake of improved forages and should take the required steps to facilitate their implementation. To accelerate the adoption of CSD farming practices for SHFs and promote their widespread implementation across the region, policymakers and implementers must recognize the synergies between these practices. Interventions that improve access to agricultural resources, supply chain inputs and outputs, as well as service provision, will further facilitate the adoption and effective implementation of CSD farming practices.