Smallholder Farmers’ Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices in Mwachisompola Agricultural Camp of Chibombo District, Zambia.

Abstract

This purpose of the study was to evaluate the climate-smart agriculture practices in enhancing resilience among small holder farmers in Mwachisompola agriculture camp in Chibombo district. The study determined the extent to which smallholder farmers in Mwachisompola Agricultural camp have adopted climate-smart agricultural practices. The study employed the mixed research approach to collect and analyse the data. The study employed the embedded research design. The target populations of the study were small scale farmers, Agriculture Camp Officer, Agriculture Block Officer of Mwachisompola Agricultural Camp, Senior Agriculture Officer and District Agriculture Officer of Chibombo district. The sample size was two hundred fifty four (254). These included one (1) Agriculture Camp Officer, one (1) Block Agricultural Officer, one (1) District Agriculture Officer and One (1) Senior Agriculture Officer and two hundred fifty (250) small scale farmers from the selected Mwachisompola agriculture camp of Chibombo district. The research instruments used collect data were questionnaire and the interview guide. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data while descriptive statistical analysis with the use of the mean and standard deviation was used to analyse the quantitative data. The study found that the adoption of (CSA) practices among smallholder farmers was moderate. The study recommends that the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Agriculture should strengthen and expand extension services, implement targeted subsidies and financing programs, invest in rural infrastructure and climate information systems.