Author(s) :

IBRAHIM Abdul Ja’afaru.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

This study examined the influence of climate change on agricultural productivity and its implications for food security in Kaduna State, Nigeria, between 2015 and 2023. The study was motivated by the increasing incidence of irregular rainfall, rising temperatures, prolonged dry spells, and flooding, which have adversely affected agricultural production and threatened household food security in the state. Despite growing literature on climate change and agriculture, limited empirical evidence exists on how climate change has influenced agricultural productivity and food security specifically within Kaduna State. The study adopted a quantitative research design anchored on Food Security Theory, as propounded by Sen (1981), Maxwell and Smith (1992), and Frankenberger (1992). The study population comprised the projected population of Kaduna State, while a sample size of 400 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, of which 390 were successfully retrieved and analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed a significant nexus between climate change and agricultural productivity, with irregular rainfall and rising temperatures reducing crop yields and agricultural output. The study further found that declining agricultural productivity has worsened household food insecurity, while inadequate irrigation facilities, weak extension services, and limited access to climate information constrained farmers' adaptive capacity. The study concludes that climate change has become a major driver of declining agricultural productivity and food insecurity in Kaduna State. It contributes to knowledge by extending Food Security Theory through demonstrating that institutional adaptation mechanisms mediate the relationship between climate change, agricultural productivity, and food security at the subnational level. The study recommends expanding irrigation infrastructure, strengthening climate smart agricultural extension services, increasing investment in climate resilient farming technologies, and integrating climate adaptation into agricultural and food security policies. Keywords: Climate change, agricultural productivity, food security, climate adaptation, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

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