Assessing the Adoption and Impact of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices on Smallholder Maize Farmers' Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Minentle Lwando Mnukwa ^* Lelethu Mdoda Maxwell Mudhara

• Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Climate change threatens agricultural sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where rain-fed farming supports millions of livelihoods. While climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers potential solutions, comprehensive evidence synthesis regarding its adoption patterns and impacts among smallholder maize farmers remains limited. This systematic review of 50 peer-reviewed studies (2003-2023) examines adoption determinants, implementation challenges, and livelihood impacts of CSA practices in SSA. The methodology employed a three-stage screening process across EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, utilising the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) for quality assessment. Our analysis reveals significant regional variations in adoption rates (Eastern Africa 56.7%, Southern Africa 43.2%, Western Africa 38.9%), driven by interlinked institutional and socioeconomic factors. Extension services emerge as a critical determinant, increasing adoption 2.8 times, while secure land tenure improves long-term investment by 60%. Gender disparities persist, with female farmers showing 40-55% adoption rates compared to male farmers' 55-70%, primarily due to structural barriers in resource access. Economic factors significantly influence adoption: high initial costs reduce uptake by 65% among resource-poor farmers, while credit access improves adoption by 45%. Our findings identify critical research gaps, including insufficient long-term impact studies beyond 2-3 years and inadequate analysis of gender-specific constraints. Future research priorities should focus on developing standardised methodologies for ecosystem service valuation, examining indigenous knowledge integration, and conducting comprehensive longitudinal studies on sustained adoption patterns. Policy recommendations emphasise the need for integrated approaches combining institutional support, innovative financing mechanisms, and enhanced market linkages, with particular attention to gender-responsive interventions that address multiple adoption barriers simultaneously.