This study examined the determinants of adoption of five CSA technologies across four locations in Tanzania to gain clarity regarding what mechanisms and obstacles may hinder wide-scale change toward new agricultural practices of smallholder farms. The five technologies that can help achieve some of the CSA outcomes in in Tanzania are: crop and livestock diversity, irrigation, application of chemical fertilizers, and agroforestry.

Using data collected from 821 farming households, a multivariate probit model was employed to evaluate the determinants of adoption, allowing for examination of synergies and trade-offs between the technologies.

The results show that some technologies, including crop diversity and irrigation as well as application of chemical fertilizer and agro-forestry, complemented each other. Trade-offs were observed between livestock diversity and irrigation. Female control of farm resources, farm location, and household resources were major determinants.

The existence of trade-offs and complements between the technologies suggests that policy and programmatic efforts that affect adoption of a given CSA technology may also influence the adoption of others. The site-specific nature of these findings reinforces the need to consider local factors and co-design solutions with the communities where programs and policies take effect of adoption.

The paper recommends strategies that seeks to enhance building household resource as pathway for improved adoption of new technologies.