Does Collective Action Matter for Climate-Smart Agriculture Adoption? Evidence from Smallholder Farmers in East Java
Mohammad Wahyu Firdaus, Hery Toiba, Tri Wahyu Nugroho

Universitas Brawijaya

Abstract

Collective action may facilitate the adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) by improving farmers^ access to information, resources, and institutional support. This study examines factors associated with farmers^ participation in collective action and its relationship with CSA adoption intensity. Data were collected from 200 smallholder farm households in Ngawi and Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia. Collective action was measured using a normalized equal-weight index covering five forms of participation, while CSA adoption intensity was measured as the number of five CSA practices adopted. A fractional logit model was used to identify factors associated with collective action participation, and Poisson regression with robust standard errors was applied to assess its association with CSA adoption intensity. Farm size, distance to agricultural extension centers, credit access, and savings ownership were positively associated with collective action participation, while farmers in Mojokerto had lower participation levels than those in Ngawi. Collective action participation was positively and significantly associated with CSA adoption intensity. Participation in one additional form of collective action was associated with approximately a 28% higher expected number of CSA practices adopted. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening farmer organizations, partnerships, and financial inclusion to support broader CSA adoption.

Keywords: Climate-smart agriculture- Collective action- Farmer participation- Institutional support- Smallholder farmers

Topic: Agribusiness and related subjects