Leonard Kakovu, Lewis Chisengele
This study evaluated the adoption levels of climate smart agricultural (CSA) practices among smallholder farmers in Mpongwe District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia. The objectives were to: i) establish how extensively CSA practices are adopted by smallholder farmers in Mpongwe; and ii) assess the impact of CSA practices on agricultural productivity in the region. A total of 100 respondents were sampled using the Central Limit Theorem. Stratified random sampling ensured proper representation of different subgroups within the population. The research employed a convergent mixed methods design, including pretested questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed with Stata 14, while qualitative data were examined thematically. Findings indicated a weak positive correlation (r = 0.023) between farmers’ education levels and CSA adoption. This challenges common assumptions about the influence of education on adopting new technologies, suggesting benefits may take longer to manifest or require additional interventions. The results highlight the importance of context specific, long-term strategies to promote CSA such as farmer training, adaptive management, and supplementary livelihood strategies to achieve meaningful improvements in productivity among smallholder farmers.