Adopting Climate-Resilient Agriculture: The Role of Institutional Support, Information, and Behavior

Abstract

Climate-resilient agriculture is increasingly important for protecting smallholder livelihoods and food systems from climate variability, yet adoption remains uneven because technical availability does not automatically produce behavioral change. This study examines how training, information access, and institutional support shape farmers’ perceived usefulness, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, and how these mechanisms influence adoption. A quantitative cross-sectional survey generated 200 usable farmer responses. We analyzed seven latent constructs measured with 34 items using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The model explained 65.5% of the variance in adoption. Training significantly strengthened perceived usefulness, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, while institutional support positively affected all three mechanisms. Information access improved perceived usefulness and subjective norms but did not significantly strengthen perceived behavioral control. Perceived behavioral control was the strongest direct predictor of adoption, followed by perceived usefulness and subjective norms. The findings show that adopting climate-resilient agriculture requires not only information but also practical capability, institutional resources, perceived benefits, and social reinforcement.