Factors Influencing Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices among Cassava Farmers in Southeastern Nigeria

Authors

  • Christipher Chiedozie Eze University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo Imo State, Nigeria
  • Chikamso Christian Apeh University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo Imo State, Nigeria
  • Chibuike Ononogbo University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo Imo State, Nigeria
  • Andrew Chiahalam Apeh Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu

Keywords:

Adoption determinants, agricultural productivity, climate-smart agriculture (CSA), multivariate Probit model, cassava farmers

Abstract

This study investigated the factors influencing the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAP) among cassava farmers in Southeastern Nigeria. Using data from the Nigeria General Household Survey (GHS) Panel conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics for 2011/2012, 2013/2014, and 2015/2016, the study applied descriptive statistics and a multivariate Probit model for analysis. Results show that the average cassava farmer was 44 years old with approximately nine years of schooling. About 85.45% of farmers adopted at least one CSAP. Key determinants of CSAP adoption included age (intercropping: coefficient = –0.02 and inorganic fertilizers: coefficient = –0.01), education (inorganic fertilizers: coefficient = 0.02 and improved varieties: coefficient = –0.01), farm size (improved varieties: coefficient = 0.03, and inorganic fertilizers: coefficient = 0.04), access to fertiliser subsidies (intercropping: coefficient = 32.05, and inorganic fertilizers: coefficient = 1.20), and credit (intercropping: coefficient = 0.45, and inorganic fertilizers: coefficient = 0.32). The findings highlight the need for policy interventions that promote effective CSAP combinations and address adoption barriers such as limited land and inadequate extension services. Enhancing farmer education, improving access to agricultural inputs, and supporting smallholders through targeted training and subsidies are recommended to boost cassava productivity and climate resilience.

Author Biographies

Christipher Chiedozie Eze, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo Imo State, Nigeria

Professor of Agricultural Economics

Chikamso Christian Apeh, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo Imo State, Nigeria

Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics

Andrew Chiahalam Apeh, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu

Senior Lecturer, Deaprtment of Mass Communication

References

Adimassu, Z., Tibebe, D., Tamene, L., & Abera, W. (2025). Evaluating the effects of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices on productivity, adaptation, and mitigation indicators in Ethiopia: A meta-analysis approach. Heliyon, 11(4), e42796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42796

Adom, P. K. (2024). The Socioeconomic Impact of Climate Change in Developing Countries in the Next Decades: A Review (CGD Working Paper 681; pp. 1–63). Center for Global Development (CGD). https://www.cgdev.org/sites/default/files/socioeconomic-impact-climate-change-developing-countries-next-decades.pdf

Antwi-Agyei, P., & Stringer, L. C. (2021). Improving the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in supporting farmers to adapt to climate change: Insights from northeastern Ghana. Climate Risk Management, 32, 100304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2021.100304

Apeh, C. C., Agbugba, I. K., & Mdoda, L. (2023). Assessing the Determinants of Adopting Urban Tree Planting as Climate Change Mitigation Strategy in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria. Sustainability, 15(16), 12224. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612224

Apeh, C. C., Chukwuone, N. A., Onyekuru, N. A., & Apeh, A. C. (2024). Gendered Analysis of the Economic Impact of Adoption of Multiple Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 28(4), 131–143. https://doi.org/10.4314/jae.v28i4.13

Apeh, C. C., Ugwuoti, O. P., & Apeh, A. C. (2023). Analysis of the consumption patterns of cassava food products amongst rural households in Imo State, Nigeria. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science, 58(1). https://doi.org/10.4314/gjas.v58i1.9

Apeh, C. C., Ukwuaba, S. I., Osuagwu, O. C., Ugwuoti, O. P., & Apeh, C. P. (2023). Barriers to Agricultural Productive Resources among Female Farmers in the Southeastern Zone of Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Economics, Environment and Social Science, 9(2), 119–130.

Chandio, A., Sethi, N., Prasad Dash, D., & Usman, M. (2022). Towards sustainable food production: What role ICT and technological development can play for cereal production in Asian–7 countries? Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 202, 107368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2022.107368

Farah, A. A., Mohamed, M. A., Musse, O. S. H., & Nor, B. A. (2025). The multifaceted impact of climate change on agricultural productivity: A systematic literature review of SCOPUS-indexed studies (2015–2024). Discover Sustainability, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01229-2

Ifeanyi-obi, C. C., & Asuquo, J. E. (2023). Constraints to Conducting Agricultural Research Uptake Activities Among Researchers in Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 27(3), 14–25. https://doi.org/10.4314/jae.v27i3.2

IPCC. (2022). Climate Change 2022: Sixth Assessment Report. Working group II - Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability [Fact Sheet-Africa]. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Kangogo, D., Dentoni, D., & Bijman, J. (2021). Adoption of climate?smart agriculture among smallholder farmers: Does farmer entrepreneurship matter? Land Use Policy, 109, 105666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105666

Kehinde, A., Ojo, T., Ogunleye, A., & Ogundeji, A. (2024). Impact of access to cash remittances on cocoa yield in Southwestern Nigeria. Sustainable Futures, 7, 100168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2024.100168

Kuyah, S., Sileshi, G. W., Nkurunziza, L., Chirinda, N., Ndayisaba, P. C., Dimobe, K., & Öborn, I. (2021). Innovative agronomic practices for sustainable intensification in sub-Saharan Africa. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 41(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-021-00673-4

Miriam, N., Jayne, M., Benjamin, D., & Alfred, M. (2025). Improving soil fertility, sorghum productivity and economic returns through organic and inorganic inputs in semiarid Kenya. Discover Soil, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-025-00068-x

Musara, J. P., Bahta, Y. T., Musemwa, L., & Manzvera, J. (2022). Rethinking Blended High Yielding Seed Varieties and Partial-Organic Fertilizer Climate Smart Agriculture Practices for Productivity and Farm Income Gains in the Drylands of Zimbabwe. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.939595

NBS. (2023). Nigeria—Nigeria Labour Force Survey Q3 2023, First round. National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/nada/index.php/catalog/76/datafile/F2/V60

Okere, R. A., Akparanta, C. D., Apeh, C. C., Okeke, C. O., & Ovie, S. (2021). Willingness to Pay for Extension Services by Smallholder Oil Palm Farmers in Okada, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Food Environment (JAFE), 8(4), 28–36.

Okere, R. A., Okere, C., Nwosu, A. A., Okpomor, O. E., & Apeh, C. C. (2022). Comparative Cost and Return Analysis of Cassava on Different Land Value Systems; A Food Security Option by Smallholder Oil Palm Farmers in Imo State. The Role of Biotechnology in Achieving Food and Nutrition Security. The UNESCO International Center for Biotechnology, Nsukka 2nd Regional Conference, Nsukka, Nigeria.

Pelemo, J. J., Ajibola, B. O., Adeyemi, O. A., Shehu, M., & Adewumi, A. (2024). Adoption of Climate-Smart Practices among Arable Crop Farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 28(4), 110–119. https://doi.org/10.4314/jae.v28i4.11

Phiri, M., Martinsen, V., Simusokwe, G., Smebye, A. B., Obia, A., Shitumbanuma, V., Selby, J., Cornelissen, G., Makate, C., & Mulder, J. (2025). Enhancing yields and climate resilience through conservation agriculture: Multi-year regional on-farm trials in Zambia. Plant and Soil. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-07191-8

Ricker-Gilbert, J. (2020). Inorganic Fertiliser Use Among Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for Input Subsidy Policies. In The Role of Smallholder Farms in Food and Nutrition Security (pp. 81–98). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42148-9_5

Sardar, A., Kiani, A. K., Kuslu, Y., & Bilgic, A. (2020). Examining The Role of Livelihood Diversification as a Part of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Strategy. Atatürk Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 51(1), 79–87. https://doi.org/10.17097/ataunizfd.604937

Tariku, G. D., & Kebede, S. A. (2024). Climate-smart agricultural practices and its implication in Ethiopia: A systematic review. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 17(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijccsm-01-2024-0012

Ugwuoti, O. P., Apeh, A. C., Apeh, C. C., & Osuagwu, O. C. (2023). Analysis of the Smallholder Farmers’ Information Needs on Climate Change in Southeast, Nigeria. Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences, 134(2), 107–113. https://doi.org/10.18551/rjoas.2023-02.11

WMO. (2021). State of the Climate in Africa 2020 (WMO-No. 1275; pp. 1–44). World Meteorological Organization (WMO). https://library.wmo.int/records/item/57682-state-of-the-climate-in-africa-2020#.YW7GIBrMLIV

Zheng, H., Ma, W., & He, Q. (2024). Climate-smart agricultural practices for enhanced farm productivity, income, resilience, and greenhouse gas mitigation: A comprehensive review. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 29(4), 28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-024-10124-6

Downloads

Published

2026-01-31

How to Cite

Eze, C., Apeh, C., Ononogbo, C., & Apeh, A. (2026). Factors Influencing Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices among Cassava Farmers in Southeastern Nigeria . Journal of Agricultural Extension, 30(1), 42–52. Retrieved from https://www.journal.aesonnigeria.org/index.php/jae/article/view/5444

Issue

Section

General Extension and Teaching Methods