Impact of Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices on Crop Yield in Taraba State, North East Nigeria

Climate-smart agriculture encompasses a range of practices aimed at sustainably increasing productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience to climate variability. In Taraba State, where farming communities face growing climatic uncertainty, the adoption of climate-smart practices represents a critical adaptation pathway. This study examined the impact of climate-smart agriculture practices on crop yield among farmers in Taraba State. A survey of 104 farmers from four local government areas was conducted using structured questionnaires supplemented by field observation. Data were collected on adoption of specific practices including minimum tillage, mulching, intercropping, and drought-tolerant varieties, as well as crop yield measurements across two seasons. Descriptive statistics and treatment effects regression were employed. Results showed that farmers adopting at least two climate-smart practices recorded yields approximately 30 percent higher than non-adopters for sorghum and groundnut. Minimum tillage and mulching were associated with the most significant yield improvements, particularly in communities with erratic rainfall. Information access, extension contact, and participation in demonstration plots were the strongest predictors of adoption. The study recommends mainstreaming climate-smart agriculture into the Taraba State extension curriculum and scaling up demonstration activities through organised farmer groups. Keywords: climate-smart agriculture, crop yield, Taraba State, adoption, smallholder farmers.