Determinants of the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices in Embu and Tharaka Nithi Counties, Kenya

Abstract

Determinants of the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices in Embu and Tharaka Nithi Counties, Kenya Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy and a major source of livelihood for rural households. However, increasing climate variability, land degradation, declining soil fertility and unsustainable farming practices continue to threaten agricultural productivity and food security. Regenerative agriculture has emerged as a sustainable farming approach capable of restoring soil health, enhancing environmental resilience and improving long-term farm productivity. Despite its potential benefits, adoption among smallholder farmers remains limited. This study examined the determinants of adoption of regenerative agriculture practices among smallholder farmers in Embu and Tharaka Nithi Counties, Kenya. Specifically, the study tested the hypotheses that socio-economic factors, environmental factors and payment for ecosystem services significantly influence adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. The study was guided by Innovation Resistance Theory and Protection Motivation Theory and employed a cross-sectional survey research design. Primary data was collected in December 2025 from 400 smallholder farmers selected through stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, diagnostic tests, and multiple linear regression analysis based on composite indices constructed from weighted averages. The findings revealed that socio-economic factors significantly and positively influenced the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. Payment for ecosystem services and market access also positively influenced adoption, indicating the importance of economic incentives and market integration in promoting sustainable farming practices. Conversely, environmental factors exhibited a negative influence on adoption, suggesting that adverse environmental conditions may constrain farmers’ capacity to implement regenerative practices. Land tenure was found to have no significant influence on adoption decisions. The study concludes that adoption of regenerative agriculture is primarily driven by farmers’ socio-economic capacity, access to incentives, and market opportunities. The study recommends strengthening farmer training programs, improving access to agricultural credit, expanding extension services, enhancing market linkages, and scaling up payment for ecosystem services initiatives to promote wider adoption of regenerative agriculture. A key limitation of the study is its cross-sectional design, which limits the ability to establish causal relationships over time.

Keywords: Regenerative agriculture, socio-economic factors, environmental factors, payment for ecosystem services, market access, land tenure, smallholder farmers, Kenya.