On-farm adoption and impacts of climate-smart agricultural practices on food security of smallholder farmers in Mali

Abstract

This paper investigates the adoption of five climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices (minimum tillage, change of sowing dates, climate-smart varieties, crop diversification, and tree planting) and their impacts on food security of smallholder farmers in Mali, across four agroecological zones and cereals and legumes farming systems. Using a combination of parametric and non-parametric tests and a Multinomial Endogenous Treatment Effect model, the results showed that CSA practices are most adopted in the Sudano-Guinean zone and least adopted in the Sahelian zone. In addition, sorghum-producing farmers, relative to maize-producing farmers, are less likely to adopt CSA practices, such as crop diversification. Household size and access to extension agents are the two factors that positively influence the adoption of most CSA practices. Regarding the impact analysis, we find that minimum tillage is the only CSA practice that significantly reduces cereal-producing household food insecurity (by 94%), whereas all five CSA practices significantly improve household dietary diversity scores (especially by 50% and 30% for the change of sowing dates and crop diversification, respectively). Extension and technical support, including access to extension services, should be much more promoted in the Sudanian-Sahelian and Sahelian zones, as well as with a specific emphasis on the sorghum-producing areas, In order to increasing climate resilience and food security in the country.

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