Smallholders’ adaptation to climate change in Western Kenya: Considering socioeconomic, institutional and biophysical determinants

•Climate change coupled with population growth are key threats to agroecosystems.•We assessed smallholders’ perceptions of climate change and adaptation determinants.•Smallholders’ were aware of drivers and consequences of climate change.•Unpredictable weather patterns and financial constraints were key adaptation barriers.•Tailoring smallholders’ dynamics in climate change policies could enhance adaptation. Climate change has stimulated detrimental threats to the global agricultural ecosystems. The study investigated i) the climate change perceptions, drivers, effects, and barriers, and ii) determinants of climate change adaptation among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya. The study interviewed 300 households using a semi-structured face-to-face interview schedule. The study employed two indices, i.e., weighted average and problem confrontation, and two regression models, i.e., Binary logistic and Poisson regression. The findings indicated that smallholder farmers were aware of climate change, its drivers, and its effects. The main barriers to climate change adaptation were unpredictable weather patterns, financial constraints, and limited agricultural training. Group membership and site negatively influenced climate change adaptation. Household head's education, experience, remittance receipt, access to credit on inputs, climate change perception, access to weather information, and cultivated farm size positively influenced climate change adaptation. The findings underscore the importance of tailoring smallholder farmers' dynamics in climate change policies to enhance adaptation. The negative prediction of group membership needs to be emphasized to prevent demotivating farmers from joining community associations. The study highlights the need to incorporate farmers' perceptions of climate change, climate awareness creation, and monetary assistance to enhance climate change resilience among smallholder farmers.