CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE FOR FOOD SECURITY: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CHALLENGES OF SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE TO FOOD SECURITY IN GOMBE STATE

Abstract

The study on Climate Smart Agriculture for food security in Gombe State: Assessed the Vulnerability of Smallholder Agriculture and Food Security. The specific objectives were determined the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, assessed the vulnerability of smallholder agriculture and food security to climate change in Gombe and appraised CSA practices appropriate for the state in the study area. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to sample 399 and the data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics, The result revealed that majority 87.4% of the respondents were male, the respondent 37.3% within the age of (41-50), most 58.1% of the respondents are married. The findings highlight those smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of the state's agricultural sector, are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to factors such as low-income levels, limited access to credit and extension services, low education levels, and reliance on rain-fed agriculture. The assessment of vulnerability reveals that erratic rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, and extreme weather events have significantly affected agricultural productivity and food security in the region and recommended Enhance access to credit and financial services tailored to smallholder farmers to improve investment in climate-resilient practices.