• Climate-Smart Agriculture, Efficiency, and Commercialization: Pathways to Poverty Reduction among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Kenya

    Author(s):

    Jerobon Josphine1, Gathiaka John Kamau², Oleche Martine3 


    Jerobonjosphine92@gmail.com
    2026-06-11 06:48:22

    2 Downloads 9 Views

    Abstract

    Despite employing over 75% of rural Kenyans, smallholder farming leaves nearly half of them in poverty and this is worsened by environmental, economic, and market challenges. To uncover mechanisms for reducing poverty, this study evaluates whether the adoption of climate-smart agriculture within a technically efficient production system, coupled with increased commercialization, could translate agricultural output into reduced multidimensional poverty. Using data from the KCSAP 2020–2021 survey, the study employs endogenous switching regression, propensity score matching, and sequential mediation analyses to explore direct and indirect pathways through which CSA influences multidimensional poverty. Results indicate that CSA adoption significantly reduces MPI, particularly among households with higher technical efficiency, while commercialization amplifies poverty reduction indirectly by facilitating market participation. Adoption intensity is shaped by household characteristics such as age, gender, education, access to credit, and group membership, with female-headed households and resource-constrained farmers facing lower adoption rates. Scenario and mediation analysis reveal that technical efficiency consistently drives MPI improvements, whereas CSA and commercialization provide supportive roles. Policy recommendations include targeted credit facilities for female-headed households, redesigning extension services to reduce labor and knowledge barriers, strengthening farmer networks, and linking productivity gains to market access.

    Keywords
    Climate Change; Multidimensional Poverty Index; Resilience; Smallholder Farmers; Kenya

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