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Climate change poses a significant threat to Kenya's smallholder livestock systems, making the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices essential. However, adoption rates vary significantly due to socioeconomic factors, institutional support, and gender roles in decision-making. Despite growing focus on climate adaptation, little research examines how household decision-making structures influence the degree of adoption of climate-smart livestock practices. This study aims to explore the factors that determine the intensity of climate adaptation among smallholder livestock farmers, emphasizing gendered decision-making roles. We surveyed 300 farmers across three Baringo sub-counties, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using an Ordered Probit Model to assess the adaptation intensity across male-dominated, female-dominated, joint and pooled decision-making households. Our results show that the education level of the household head, market proximity, and extension services positively influenced adoption intensity, whereas experiences of conflict, agro-pastoralism, and communal land ownership reduced it. These effects varied across decision-making categories, underscoring gendered disparities. Policymakers should implement tailored strategies, including capacity-building initiatives, access to credit, and improved extension services, to promote inclusive climate adaptation among livestock farmers. • Gendered decision-making significantly influences climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption among Kenyan smallholders. • Higher education, proximity to market, and extension access boost adoption intensity. • Conflicts, agro-pastoralism systems, and communal land tenure reduce CSA uptake. • Household decision-making models reveal distinct adoption patterns, underscoring the need for gender-responsive policies.
Chepkochei et al. (Tue,) studied this question.