From Knowledge to Practice: Information Access, Smallholders' Behavior, and the Adoption of Climate-Resilient Soil Management Practices in Coastal Cameroon

Abstract

Smallholder farmers in coastal Cameroon face accelerating soil degradation and climate variability. However, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) remains uneven. This study examines how information behavior and motivational objectives shape SAP adoption in the Tiko municipality using a cross-sectional survey of 122 household heads and a multivariate logistic framework. Adoption rates are high for inorganic fertilizers (69.7%), animal manure (68.9%), and contour ridges (65.6%), but lower for reduced tillage (51.6%) and mulching (23.8%). Male farmers are more likely to use animal manure and less likely to apply mineral fertilizer. Older farmers are less likely to adopt reduced tillage, while farming experience increases fertilizer use. Access to technology facilitates manure adoption, while extension services promote reduced tillage. Soil fertility concerns drive the use of contour ridges, whereas climate adaptation concerns are negatively associated with manure use. These results highlight that adaptation is not purely a technical matter. Rather, information access, perceptions, and objectives mediate adoption decisions. Strengthening extension, farmer-to-farmer learning, and access to inputs can help translate knowledge into action and align short-term productivity with long-term soil health.