Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Security: An Empirical Analysis of Farming Households in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined the nexus between farming households' food security status and Climate-Smart Agricultural practices in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Primary data was collected through structured questionnaires from 150 respondents randomly selected using a three-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, FGT, and logit regression models were used to analyze the data. The findings indicate a high level of awareness and utilization of CSA practices among farmers, with mixed cropping, intercropping, cover cropping, and mulching being the most commonly adopted techniques. The study revealed a poverty headcount ratio of 0.29, a food insecurity shortfall of 0.28, and a food insecurity severity of 0.13. The regression results identified age, gender, household size, farming experience, and the number of CSA practices adopted as significant determinants of food security. Food security demonstrates a strong positive relationship with the number of CSA practices adopted by farmers. The research proposes specific government policies to increase CSA implementation while addressing more social and economic factors that affect food security in the study area.