HOUSEHOLD WELFARE EFFECTS OF ADOPTING OPEN DATA SOURCES FOR CLIMATE SMART PRACTICES

Abstract

Despite persistent attempts to address climate change using open data sources, acceptance rates remain low as benefits are not well understood. This study therefore explores the welfare effects of adopting climate smart agriculture practices on smallholder households using data from 436 households collected using a multistage sampling. The impact was estimated using Endogenous Switching Regression. Results show that years of schooling, awareness of climate-smart agriculture, employment of farm workers, fertilizer costs for staple crops, and access to institutions that disseminate climate-smart techniques positively and significantly influence the choice to adopt climate smart agriculture impacts household welfare. Welfare of household was measured as annual total income earned . The estimates also provide evidence that the control group , the non adopter had they adopted could have potential increased their welfare by 224547.3. The analysis shows that participation in use of open data for climate smart agriculture would significantly improve households’ annual income by Kshs. 231,5385.The policy implication is that, households can improve their welfare by adopting open data channels for climate-smart practices. The policy implication is that, households can improve their welfare by adopting open data channels for climate-smart practices