Poster #9 - Adoption of Water Smart Agriculture Practices by Smallholder Farmers in Central America’s Dry Corridor

• In Event: Friday Poster Reception

Abstract

Smallholder farmers across Central America face mounting challenges from climate change, soil degradation, and declining yields. Water Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices such as residue retention, cover cropping, and nutrient management offer potential pathways for increasing resilience, improving soil health, and sustaining productivity. Yet despite widespread promotion, adoption of these practices remains uneven. Using survey data from 2,770 smallholder farm households in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, this study examines patterns of training, adoption, and perceived benefits and challenges of CSA practices. Results show that while training in a practice is strongly associated with its adoption, many farmers who understand the benefits of CSA practices do not adopt them. Resource constraints, costs, and access to inputs are central challenges. Also, gender and age disparities persist. The findings underscore that scaling CSA adoption requires not only effective training but also support to overcome economic and logistical barriers.

Author

• Ana G Andino, Duke University
  Presenting Author