Effect of climate-smart agricultural practices on food security among smallholder millet farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Food insecurity continues to challenge rural households despite the adoption of various adaptation strategies. Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAP) have emerged as viable tools to mitigate climate impacts and improve food security among smallholder farmers. This study assessed the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder millet farmers, examined the effect of CSAPs on household food security, and identified challenges faced by farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 262 respondents across the four Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) zones. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Results showed that the majority (71.8%) of farmers were medium users of CSAPs, while 25.6% were high users. About 46.2% of households were food secure, while 53.8% were food insecure. Binary logistic regression indicated that cover cropping, improved disease-resistant varieties, farm size, and extension visits significantly influenced food security, while ridging and early planting had negative effects. Challenges identified included inadequate access to inputs, credit, irrigation, and extension services. The study recommends increased access to improved inputs, strengthening of extension services, and policy interventions to improve food security.

Keywords: Climate-Smart Agriculture, Millet, Food Security, Smallholder Farmers, Jigawa State