Agriculture is the most important sector in Uganda’s economy, but it continues to experience challenges of erratic rainfall variability and environmental degradation. This paper is situated within post-structuralist geographical thought to (i) classify CSA practices and (ii) empirically quantify the relative importance of household socio-economic factors that structure the adoption of CSA practices in drylands in Uganda. The study was carried out in Nakasongola District in Central Uganda, and 143 geo-referenced questionnaires were used to collect relevant farming household and CSA data.

Results indicated that timely planting, crop rotation, intercropping, and proper spacing were the most prevalent CSA practices, while rotational grazing, mulching, fertilizer use, and use of pesticides and herbicides were the least prevalent practices. Principal component analysis (PCA) generated a factor solution, and the components were clustered into three CSA practices: crop management, conservation agriculture, and land management practices.

There are important differences in the propensity of households living in village settings to adapt. Parameter estimates indicated that the size of household, household income diversity index, access to pesticide uses, fertilizers, extension services, domestic water sources, improved seeds, credit, main decision-maker in the household, and education levels of the head of the household significantly influence (p < 0.05) the adoption of CSA practices.