Determinants of Climate-Smart Agriculture Adoption among Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Indonesia: Evidence from Malang Regency, East Java

Faculty of Animal Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia

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Abstract

Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) has emerged as a key strategy for enhancing climate resilience, productivity, and sustainability in livestock systems. However, empirical evidence on CSA adoption in Indonesia's dairy sector remains limited. This study investigates the adoption rate and determinants of CSA practices among smallholder dairy farmers in Ngantang and Pujon Districts, Malang Regency, East Java. A quantitative survey was conducted with 200 dairy farmers selected through purposive sampling between December 2024 and March 2025. Six CSA practices were examined: pasture nutrient management, agroforestry, improved waste management, enhanced feed conversion efficiency, livestock vaccination, and integrated crop-livestock systems. A multivariate probit model was applied to account for the simultaneous adoption of multiple practices and potential interdependencies among adoption decisions. The results reveal relatively high adoption rates across all CSA practices, exceeding 50% for each practice, with pasture nutrient management and feed conversion improvement showing the highest uptake. Access to extension services, membership in livestock farmer groups, access to credit, herd size, farming experience, education level, and access to CSA-related information significantly influence CSA adoption, though effects vary by practice. Herd size and credit access strongly promote improved waste management, while farming experience positively affects livestock vaccination but negatively influences agroforestry adoption. Older age reduces the likelihood of adopting improved feed conversion practices. In contrast, gender and household size do not significantly affect CSA adoption. The findings underscore the critical role of extension services, financial inclusion, and collective action in accelerating CSA adoption among smallholder dairy farmers. Strengthening institutional support, enhancing targeted extension programs, and improving access to credit can facilitate climate-resilient transformation in Indonesia's dairy sector and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action.