Effect of climate smart agricultural practices on farming householdsʹ food security status in Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices on farming households` food security status in Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria. The study utilized primary data. The data was collected using structured questionnaire. A three-staged sampling technique was used to select 140 respondents for the study. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, FGT model and logit regression model. The result of the study shows that majority of the farmers were aware of the CSA practices, and the following practices were the most utilized practices among the respondents; Agro-forestry, Crop rotation, Mixed cropping, Improved crop varieties, Intercropping, Compost making, Improved fallowing, Organic manure, Mulching and Cover crops. The headcount ratio showed a poverty head count ratio of 0.29, food insecurity shortfall 0.28, and food insecurity severity of 0.13. The regression result indicated age (p<0.05), gender (p<0.01), household size (p<0.01), and years of farming experience were the major determinants of food security in the study area. The study concluded that though climate smart agricultural practices have positive coefficient but however not significant have the potential to enhance food security. The study also recommended that policy be put in place help confront the constraints being faced by the farmers from adopting CSAs in the study area.