Do informational videos impact awareness, knowledge, and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices? Insights from rural Uganda

Kato, Edward; Rwamigisa, Patience B.; Kamusiime, Herbert; Sufian, Farha; and Ringler, Claudia. 2023. Do informational videos impact awareness, knowledge, and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices? Insights from rural Uganda. Reaching Women Farmers With CSA Policy Note 10. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.137054.

Uganda is highly vulnerable to adverse impacts from climate change, including erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and increased frequency of pests and diseases. While many climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices have been identified, a gender gap in access to and adoption of these practices persists. This study tested par ticipatory video-based extension to reach underserved women and men farmers in parts of central Uganda and assessed its impacts on gendered awareness, knowledge, and adoption of CSA practices as well as women’s empowerment. We find limited impacts on awareness and knowledge and significant impacts for the adoption of several CSA practices. We also find some improvement in women’s decision-making but a decline in their group membership. We propose strategies to strengthen the uptake of CSA practices that can be implemented along side participatory video-based extension.