RP-Department of Agricultural Economics

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Browsing RP-Department of Agricultural Economics by Author "Obebo, Forah"

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    Livestock Farmers’ Intentions to Adopt Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands: What Role Do Behavioural Factors Play?
    (Sustainability, 2025-08) Chepng′etich, Evaline; Mbeche, Robert; Ateka, Josiah Mwangi; Obebo, Forah
    Pastoral livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa are under an increasing threat from climate change with arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) being especially vulnerable. Climatesmart agriculture (CSA) is widely promoted as a strategy for enhancing resilience among smallholder livestock farmers by improving productivity, increasing farmers’ incomes and strengthening adaptive capacity. However, CSA adoption rates among pastoralists remains low. While existing studies emphasise socio-economic and institutional factors, this study explores the often-overlooked behavioural dimensions, attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions, which critically influence adaptation decisions. Guided by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this study investigates the behavioural drivers of CSA adoption among 737 livestock farmers in Kenya’s ASALs. Using ordered probit regression and structural equation modelling–confirmatory factor analysis (SEM-CFA), the results reveal that attitudes and perceived behavioural control are significant predictors of farmer intention to adopt CSA practices, with perceived behavioural control being the most influential predictor. Farmers with a positive attitude and confidence in their ability to implement CSA practices are more likely to adopt them. The study findings suggest that efforts to promote CSA adoption should prioritise transforming attitudes and building practical confidence by increasing exposure to demonstration farms and implementing awareness-raising initiatives within pastoral communities
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    Supporting Smallholder Livestock Farmers’ Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change in Kenya: What Role does Entrepreneurial Orientation and Uptake of CSA Play?
    (2024-07) Chepng'etich, Evaline; Ateka, Josiah Mwangi; Mbeche, Robert; Obebo, Forah
    Improving smallholder farmers' adaptive capacity to climate change has become a major concern of governments and development agencies. Adaptive capacity determines the inherent ability of a system to cope with vulnerability to climate change. This paper used cross sectional survey data of 737 livestock producing households to assess determinants of adaptive capacity among Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) communities in Kenya. Specifically, we focused on the role of entrepreneurship orientation (risk taking, proactiveness and innovativeness) and uptake of climate smart agricultural (CSA) practices in improving adaptive capacity – a dimension which has received limited research attention. Adaptive capacity was measured using a set of indicators representing the five capitals in the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF). The determinants of adaptive capacity were analyzed using fractional and censored regression models. The results revealed mixed influence of entrepreneurship orientation on adaptive capacity. While risk taking and proactiveness were positively associated with a higher adaptive capacity, innovativeness did not have any influence. Similarly, uptake of livestock CSA practices was associated with a higher level of adaptive capacity. Other factors that positively influenced adaptive capacity were age, gender, education level, diversity of income, access to extension services, credit, and collective action. The findings suggest that a strategy to promote entrepreneurial orientation, uptake of CSA, accumulation of human and financial capital would enhance livestock producers’ adaptive capacity.