Title: Evaluating the utilisation of climate-smart agricultural technologies by smallholder farmers: a case of Kyenjojo District, Uganda

Climate change is already affecting the agriculture sector in Uganda, characterised by prolonged droughts, unpredictable and erratic rainfall that result in crop failure and lower yields for the farmers. This study evaluates the utilisation of climate-smart agricultural technologies by smallholder farmers in Nyantungo Subcounty, Kyenjojo District. The study was based on three specific objectives: to identify climate-smart agriculture technologies being implemented, to examine the benefits based on the farmers’ experience, and to assess the challenges of adopting to climate-smart agriculture technologies. Qualitative information was collected with 25 semi-structured interviews with 11 female and 14 male respondents. Data was analysed using thematic content analysis. From the findings, it appears that the climate-smart agriculture technologies practiced were: soil and water conservation (rainwater harvesting, irrigation, mulching, cover cropping), energy on-farm conservation (minimum tillage, efficient saving stoves), scientific and indigenous knowledge technologies (early planting, planting of improved seed varieties tolerant to drought or rain), nutrient management (intercropping with legumes, use of animal waste or manure) and carbon management (cultivation/intercropping with leguminous plants, agroforestry, fruit trees, fodder crops). The benefits of the technologies included increased yields, and environment and micro-climate modification. However, farmers faced challenges in implementing these technologies, including a lack of financial resources for investment, the technologies are labour intensive, inadequate extension services, and limited access to markets. In terms of gender involvement, it was found that there were differences between how women and men headed households adopt and implement different technologies. Based on the study outcomes it is recommended that the government plans for provision of water for production to make irrigation possible throughout the year, negotiate with banks for provision of affordable credit facilities, strengthening of the agricultural extension services, and that farmers organize themselves into groups for proper collaborations.