The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has been working closely with Kenyan partners such as the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and ACRE Africa Ltd. to understand how smallholder farmers adopt new agricultural technologies. Their research highlights that successful adoption of innovations like drought-tolerant varieties (DTVs), modern insurance products, and efficient farming practices depends not only on technical performance but also on how these technologies are introduced, marketed, and supported. For farmers, especially in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), risk aversion, limited resources, and gender-related barriers significantly influence whether they embrace new agricultural solutions. By tailoring interventions to these social, economic, and institutional dynamics, IFPRI aims to make technology adoption both practical and impactful for food security.
A key finding from IFPRI’s studies is that bundling drought-tolerant seeds with crop insurance can increase uptake, particularly when farmers understand that insurance and the seeds mitigate different types of risks. Experiments across seven Kenyan counties found that farmers were more willing to pay for bundled products, especially when coverage included complementary inputs like pesticides. However, adoption was uneven: male farmers in ASAL regions were more responsive to these interventions than women, who often face additional barriers. The research also revealed that farmers’ perceptions of DTVs, including visual appearance under drought conditions, affected adoption patterns. While the promoted varieties yielded higher output, farmers sometimes perceived them as less resilient, highlighting the importance of addressing expectations and providing education alongside distribution.
Despite these innovations, challenges remain. High seed costs, limited availability, counterfeit products, and unpredictable weather continue to restrict adoption. IFPRI emphasizes the need for targeted interventions, including direct distribution models, improved quality control, and farmer education that clarifies the distinct benefits of insurance and new varieties. Future research also calls for more nuanced gender- and region-specific approaches to understand how adoption decisions vary across demographics. Overall, the findings underscore the complexity of promoting agricultural innovations in Kenya and suggest that holistic strategies combining access, education, and support can enhance adoption, strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers, and contribute to national food security objectives.