review · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
A systematic review of fifty studies from 2003 to 2023 examines the adoption and effects of climate-smart agricultural practices among smallholder maize farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa. Adoption varies regionally, reaching 56.7 percent in Eastern Africa, 43.2 percent in Southern Africa, and 38.9 percent in Western Africa. Institutional and socioeconomic conditions strongly dictate these patterns. Agricultural extension services multiply adoption likelihood by 2.8 times, and secure land tenure improves long-term investment by 60 percent. Conversely, high initial capital costs reduce uptake by 65 percent among resource-poor farmers, while credit access improves adoption by 45 percent. Marked gender gaps persist, with female farmers adopting practices at rates between 40 and 55 percent compared to 55 to 70 percent for male farmers. Existing literature largely lacks impact assessments beyond three years.
Millions of smallholders across Sub-Saharan Africa depend on rain-fed maize farming, leaving their livelihoods vulnerable to climate disruption. Synthesising what drives or blocks the uptake of climate-smart techniques helps funders, development agencies, and policymakers deploy resources effectively. Addressing clear constraints in credit, land tenure, and gender equality ensures agricultural interventions offer lasting resilience to vulnerable rural communities.
The findings inform rural banks, microfinance organisations, and agritech ventures seeking to deploy services to smallholder farmers. The evidence points to immediate, near-market opportunities for innovative credit schemes and bundled extension services that lower the 65 percent adoption penalty caused by high upfront costs. However, because this work is a secondary literature synthesis rather than a field-tested product, commercial actors must adapt these insights into specific business models.
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Climate change threatens agricultural sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where rain-fed farming supports millions of livelihoods. While climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers potential solutions, comprehensive evidence synthesis regarding its adoption patterns and impacts among smallholder maize farmers remains limited. This systematic review analysed 50 peer-reviewed studies (2003–2023) using a three-stage screening process across EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was employed for quality assessment of the selected studies. Regional variations in CSA adoption rates were observed (Eastern Africa 56.7%, Southern Africa 43.2%, Western Africa 38.9%), influenced by institutional and socioeconomic factors. Extension services increased adoption 2.8 times, while secure land tenure improved long-term investment by 60%. Gender disparities were evident, with female farmers showing 40–55% adoption rates compared to male farmers’ 55–70%. Economic constraints significantly impacted adoption, with high initial costs reducing uptake by 65% among resource-poor farmers, while credit access improved adoption by 45%. Critical research gaps include insufficient long-term impact studies beyond 2–3 years and inadequate analysis of gender-specific constraints. Future research should prioritize developing standardized methodologies for ecosystem service valuation, examining indigenous knowledge integration, and conducting comprehensive longitudinal studies on sustained adoption patterns. Policy recommendations emphasise integrated approaches combining institutional support, innovative financing mechanisms, and enhanced market linkages, with particular attention to gender-responsive interventions addressing multiple adoption barriers simultaneously.
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DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1543805
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