Catalyzing Climate Resilience : Addressing Adoption Barriers to Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Security in Cameroon’s Vulnerable Farming Communities

This study examines the barriers to climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption among smallholder farmers in Tiko, Cameroon, and the associated socioeconomic impacts on household food security in the face of environmental change. Despite moderate awareness of CSA practices (60%), adoption remains low (35%) due to limited financial resources, insufficient extension services, restricted access to inputs and infrastructure, and cultural resistance. Using a mixed-methods approach, results identify education, farm size, and particularly access to credit as critical factors influencing CSA uptake, highlighting the intersection of socioeconomic and ecological resilience. Most households report declining food availability attributed to climate variability, leading to coping strategies such as meal reduction and asset sales which threaten long-term adaptive capacity. These findings emphasize the need for integrated interventions combining financial support, capacity-building, improved input supply chains, and culturally sensitive participatory approaches. Additionally, strengthening localized climate information services is essential to aid informed decision-making amid escalating climate risks. Implementing such multidimensional strategies will enhance adaptive capacity, promote sustainable agricultural ecosystems, and improve food security resilience in vulnerable tropical African farming communities.