Smallholder farmers' maize production is highly susceptible to climate change. Higher temperatures may result in reduced yields while encouraging weed, pest, and disease infestation. The impacts of climate change on agriculture are projected to be negative, threatening global food security; therefore, this is an important area of empirical research. This study sought to identify the factors affecting the adoption and intensity of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption among smallholder maize farmers in the uMshwathi and uKhahlamba Municipal areas of KwaZulu Natal. The study used the primary data collected from 99 respondents who were selected through simple random sampling. The descriptive results indicated that farmers had experienced severe climatic conditions such as drought, pests, diseases, hailstorms, heavy rains (floods), soil infertility, and frost in their farming system. The first hurdle of the probit model results showed that drought, on-farm income, and household size significantly influenced the adoption of CSA practices. In contrast, the main source of income and educational level had a significant negative influence. The results from the second hurdle showed that drought had a significant positive impact on the intensity of CSA adoption, while marital status had a significant negative effect. Several factors influence the adoption of an intensification of CSA practices. The study recommends that policymakers and climate change champions consider smallholder farmers' socioeconomic factors when developing climate change adaptation programs. Local climate change organizations must scale up climate change awareness and adaptation programs collaboratively. Investments in public climate and adaptation education or training are needed, as well as localized meteorological observations and early warning systems. Mass media dissemination of climate change and adaptation information in locally understood languages is urgently required.

Keywords: CSA adoption; climate change impact; climate-smart agriculture (CSA); smallholder farmers.

小规模农户的玉米生产对气候变化非常敏感。气温升高可能导致产量减少，并促进杂草、病虫害的发生。气候变化对农业的影响预计将是负面的，威胁到全球粮食安全；因此，这是一个重要的实证研究领域。本研究旨在识别夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省 uMshwathi 和 uKhahlamba 地区小规模玉米农户采纳气候智能型农业（CSA）及其强度的相关因素。该研究使用了从99名受访者中通过简单随机抽样收集到的一手数据。描述性结果显示，农民在其农业生产系统中经历了严重的气候条件，如干旱、病虫害、冰雹风暴、暴雨（洪水）、土壤贫瘠和霜冻等。第一个障碍的普罗比模型结果表明，干旱、农场收入和家庭规模显著影响了CSA实践的采纳；相比之下，主要收入来源和教育水平有显著的负面影响。第二个障碍的结果显示，干旱对CSA采纳强度有显著的正面影响，而婚姻状况则有显著的负面效应。多个因素会影响CSA实践及其加强的采纳情况。本研究建议政策制定者和气候变化倡导者在制定气候适应项目时考虑小规模农户的社会经济因素；地方气候变化组织必须合作扩大气候适应意识与行动方案。需要对公共气候及适应教育或培训进行投资，同时建立本地化的气象观测和早期预警系统。迫切需要通过大众媒体以当地语言广泛传播有关气候变化及其应对的信息。

关键词：CSA采纳；气候变化影响；气候智能型农业（CSA）；小规模农户。