EFFECTS OF CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON FOOD SECURITY AMONG SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Small-scale agriculture plays a crucial role in sustaining rural livelihoods and food supply in
Nigeria, yet its productivity and resilience are increasingly destabilized by climate change.
Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAP) have been promoted as pathways to enhance
productivity, build resilience, and strengthen food security. This study examines the adoption of
CSAPs and their effects on household food security among small-scale farmers in Oyo State,
Nigeria Using Primary data that were collected from 350 farming households through a
multistage sampling design and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Poisson regression, and
multiple regression models. Results show that farmers adopted an average of 3.6 CSAPs, with
43% classified as medium adopters and 32% as high adopters. Education, gender, and farm size
significantly influenced the extent of adoption, (β = 0.0215; p < 0.001), (β = 0.1294; p < 0.05),
(β = 0.0199; p < 0.10) while age and income had no significant effects. Regression results reveal
that higher adoption levels significantly improved both Household Dietary Diversity Score (β =
1.599; p < 0.01) and Food Consumption Score (β = 13.167; p < 0.01), indicating positive impacts
on food access and dietary quality. However, household size negatively affected food security,
while income and farming experience contributed positively (p < 0.05). These findings highlight
that education (p < 0.05) and access to resources are stronger drivers of CSAP adoption than
demographic characteristics. Policies should prioritize farmer training, gender equity in resource
access, and targeted support for smallholders to encourage sustained adoption of CSAP bundles,
thereby enhancing agricultural resilience and food security in the face of climate change.