Active Participation and Adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture Greenhouse Technology among Smallholder Farmers in Kiambu County, Kenya

Purpose: This study sought to examine the influence of active participation on the adoption of climate-smart agriculture greenhouse farming technology among smallholder farmers in Kiambu County. Climate Change has exacerbated food insecurity and malnutrition, despite the implementation of participatory development approaches aimed at ending hunger by 2030. One of communication’s main roles is to facilitate people’s participation in sustainable development since there can be no participation without communication. The study was guided by the Participatory Communication Theory (PCT) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Methodology: The study was conducted using a mixed-method research design, with data collected through questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were collected from 387 smallholder farmers in Kiambu County, Kenya, while qualitative data were obtained from 50 key informants through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analysed using emerging themes as narratives. Findings: Active participation among stakeholders influenced the adoption of climate-smart agriculture greenhouse technology with key attributes being planning phase (sig. =.003) and assessment phase (sig. =.031). The study found that more than 90% of farmers agreed that they must actively participate in all the four phases of active participation during uptake of climate-smart greenhouse farming. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends that all stakeholders should be actively involved in the entire process of adopting greenhouse farming from the diagnosis, planning, implementation and assessment phases for farmers to encounter high productivity when solving food crisis and malnutrition.