The effect of climate smart agricultural practices on poverty status of maize rural farming household in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Abstract

The current level of poverty in Nigeria is disturbing and climate change impends food security and increases poverty indirectly and directly on individuals or households. Farming households are changing agricultural practices as a result of global observation of climatic and environmental changes. This research work recognised a link which exists between climate change, climate smart agricultural practices (CSAP) and poverty status of farming households in North West Nigeria. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of climate smart agricultural practices on poverty status of maize farming household in the study area. This is with a view to establishing the consequences of climate variation and its influence on poverty status among rural farmers in North West Nigeria. The multi-stage, sampling techniques was used to select three hundred and twenty (320) respondents who provided the relevant primary data for this study through a set of pre-tested structured questionnaires. The data were analysed with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and with instrumental variable of a probit regression model. The regression analysis result shows that CSAP has effect on poverty status of maize rural farming household in Sokoto State were maize enterprises decreases the odds or probability of being poor significantly. Study recommended that Governmental and farmers’ organisations can fashion out a favourable training workshop to inspire the low-users of CSA to improve on their performance. Also, the rural farmers should be encouraged to develop interest in CSAP, like the empowerment programmes instituted by the government through Agricultural Development Project (ADP). The policies on informal education should be enhanced and enforced in the curriculum to meet the CSAP challenges. Extension delivery system approach should be upgraded to meet the present information age. The study therefore recommends that massive campaigns be made by government, civil societies and the media to create awareness about CSAP and to proffer indigenous solutions that address the issue of low-users and the constraints being faced.