Influence of weather and climate information services and climate-smart technologies on common bean productivity and household resilience in Homa Bay County, Kenya

Climate variability continues to constrain smallholder agricultural productivity and resilience in sub-Saharan Africa. Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) and Climate-Smart Technologies (CSTs) are promoted as one of the primary adaptation strategies, yet there is no exhaustive empirical data on the combined effect of these strategies on the productivity and resilience of common bean farmers. This study broadly assessed how WCIS affects the adoption of CSTs and its implications for common bean productivity and the resilience of farmers in Homa Bay County, Kenya. A mixed-methods design was used for a cross-sectional survey of 157 bean farmers previously subjected to WCIS training. Structured questionnaires and observation checklists were used to obtain data, which were analysed through descriptive statistics, log-linear regression, and the Structural Equation Model (SEM). A quasi-experimental design was used to compare CST-adopters and non-adopters. All the respondents reported access to WCIS, with 59.2% indicating WCIS roles in both key farm decisions and CST adoption. Most adopted CSTs were intercropping (54.1%) and organic manure application (49.7%). Farmers' adoption of weather-informed farming practices was high, with 96.2% of farmers changing planting dates and 95.5% using early maturing bean varieties. Nearly 84.7% of farmers reported higher common bean production or reduced losses at 78.3%. CST adoption intensity was significantly associated with higher common bean productivity, with mean yields ranging from 135.8 kg acre⁻¹ for non-adopters to 348.2 kg acre⁻¹ for high CST adopters. Log-linear regression analysis revealed that for every increment in the level of adoption of CSTs, common bean yields increased by 41.8% (β = 0.349, P ≤ 0.003). SEM results showed that adoption of CSTs was significantly affected by the use of WCIS (β = 0.447, P ≤ 0.001), and that common bean productivity had a significant positive effect on household resilience (β = 0.341, P ≤ 0.001). Unreliable weather forecasts, insufficient information, and lack of confidence in extension providers were the most common obstacles. The present study found that the use of reliable WCIS coupled with CSTs could significantly boost common bean production and enhance smallholders' resilience to climate change.