Adoption Dynamics of Drought-Resistant Maize Varieties Among Smallholder Farmers in Kenyan Laikipia District: A Multisite Impact Assessment

Drought-resistant maize varieties have been introduced to mitigate the effects of climate variability in agricultural settings. A systematic review methodology was employed to synthesize existing literature from peer-reviewed journals and grey literature sources related to agricultural practices, farmer behaviour, and climate resilience studies conducted in Kenya. The analysis revealed that farmers who received training had a higher adoption rate of drought-resistant maize varieties (75% compared to 60%) and reported an average yield increase of 20% over conventional maize varieties. The review underscores the importance of farmer education in enhancing adoption rates and yield improvements, suggesting targeted extension services can significantly impact climate-resilient agriculture outcomes. Investment in farmer education programmes should be prioritised to facilitate wider adoption of drought-resistant maize varieties and ensure sustainable agricultural practices in Laikipia District. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.