FACTORS AFFECTING FARMERS’ USE OF CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

The main objective of this study was to determine farmers’ extent of use of climate-smart agricultural practices and identify the most influential factors affecting the use of these practices. The study was conducted in Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur district in Bangladesh. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from one hundred thirty-three (133) farmers from May 2023 to July 2023. The use of ten selected climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices by the farmers was measured by a 4-point rating scale using the following responses: ‘Not at all’, ‘Rarely’, ‘Occasionally’, and ‘Frequently’, with corresponding weights of 0, 1, 2, and 3. In addition to descriptive statistical analyses, correlation analysis and multiple linear and stepwise regression analyses were performed to determine the most influential factors. The majority (55.6%) of the farmers used climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices moderately. The top three CSA practices used by the farmers were ‘crop rotation’ (SUI=0.516), ‘organic composting’ (SUI=0.415), and ‘cover cropping’ (SUI=0.309). The least used practice was ‘using intelligent technologies (GPS, sensors, drones, etc.)’ (SUI=0.092). Farmers’ educational qualifications, annual income, access to information sources, and risk orientation were the most significant factors in explaining farmers’ use of climate-smart agricultural practices. However, farmers’ educational qualification contributed about 61.1% of the variance in explaining the dependent variable. Strategies should include targeted educational campaigns, training programs, tailored financial subsidies, and robust extension services to enhance the utilisation of CSA practices.