Smallholders’ adoption of climate-smart practices in Konso, Ethiopia

Adoption of Climate-Smart-Agriculture (CSA) practices by smallholder farmers in the UNESCO-designated cultural landscape of Konso is assessed using household survey data, focus groups and key informant interviews. A multinomial logit model reveals that the main determinants of adoption of terracing, agroforestry and intercropping were education, size of landholding, income, access to climate information, credit, and extension services. Despite the farmers’ best efforts, food security is increasingly constrained by unreliable rainfall. External support in the form of reliable regular weather forecasts, affordable credit and crop insurance would support local livelihoods and the sustainability of the indigenous farming system.