INFLUENCE OF ADOPTING CLIMATE SMART PRACTICES ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY STATUS IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the influence of adopting climate smart agricultural practices on food security of farm households
in Southern Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select farmers across five states in Southern Nigeria.
Household food security (HFS) was assessed using the United States Department of Agriculture’s HFS survey module.
Data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentages, mean and Ordered Probit model. The household food
security status revealed that 26% of the households were highly food secure: while 29%, 23.2% and 21.8% have
marginal, low and very low food security respectively. Ordered Probit of household food security results revealed that
households that adopted agroforestry (β =0.3269, p<0.05) and use of organic compost (β =-0.2925, p<0.05) were
significantly more likely to be food secure. The study therefore recommended public sensitization by extension agents,
better participation from farmers and favourable policy from the government to encourage continuous use of climate
smart practices should be put in place as their use tend to have a positive influence on the household food security
status in Southern Nigeria.