Smallholder Fish Farmers’ Preferences for Climate‐Smart Aquaculture Practices in Kakamega County, Kenya: A Latent Class Approach

ABSTRACT Aquaculture, identified as a critical sector to bridge the fish supply gap, remains extensively vulnerable to the vagaries of climate change. In efforts to achieve a “triple win” effect on increased productivity, enhanced resilience and reduced emissions, climate‐smart aquaculture (CSAq) practices have been developed for implementation. However, this development calls for aligning innovations and technologies with the actual needs, priorities, and constraints of aqua farmers. Therefore, understanding fish farmers’ preferences for CSAq practices is critical to boost adoption and achieving sustainable aquaculture. This study has adopted a best–worst scaling technique to assess fish farmers’ preferences for CSAq practices among 220 smallholder farmers in Kakamega County Kenya, selected using a multistage sampling design. Descriptive and econometric analyses were conducted in data analysis. The study revealed four latent class membership among the farmers, determined by age, access to extension services and income. The results indicated that farmers attached high importance to the use of solar energy, water reuse, and water‐harvesting technologies. Water treatment and the use of wind power had negative utility relative to the mean among aquafarmers. The paper concludes on the need for policy insights on technology incubation, training, and education programs to increase awareness and adoption of CSAq practices among farmers.