EVALUATION OF BARRIERS LIMITING THE UPTAKE OF CLIMATE RESILIENT AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES BY SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN KEBBI STATE, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA.

Climate-resilient agroforestry (CRA) is a proficient strategy for enhancing climate resilience
and food security in semi-arid regions. Nevertheless, its execution remains constrained. This
study assessed the awareness, beliefs, and constraints influencing the adoption of Climate-Smart
Agriculture practices among 2750 farmers in Kebbi State, Nigeria. A standardized questionnaire
was utilized to collect socio-demographic data and evaluate farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and
perceived challenges. Descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis. The findings
revealed a significant disparity: whereas a considerable majority of farmers (89%)
acknowledged agroforestry and most (76%) observed climatic changes, awareness of specific
climate-smart agriculture techniques was restricted (<31%). The primary constraints were
considerable competition for resources between trees and crops (74-89% agreement) and major
economic barriers, including labour costs and a prolonged gestation period. A notable finding
was the nearly total lack of institutional support, with over 80% of farmers reporting inadequate
access to extension services. Despite these challenges, 70% of participants expressed a
willingness to adopt more practices, including training, affordable seedlings, and access to
funding as critical support needs. The research suggests that closing the adoption gap in semi
arid Nigeria requires interventions that correct misconceptions via effective information
dissemination, while simultaneously tackling economic obstacles through improved
institutional support and customized incentives.