As conflict, climate shocks, and land/water degradation—the “triple challenge”—continue to exert increasing pressure upon fishing and farming livelihoods in many developing countries, a need exists to better understand how differential vulnerabilities undermine or amplify food security outcomes. In this study, we investigate how vulnerability to the “triple challenge” affect food security using an in-depth case study approach that merges social statistics and quantitative data analysis. We frame vulnerability using a combination of sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity, and operationalize food security using the FAO Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), which is an experience-based measure capturing the food access dimension of food security. We draw on survey data from 252 fishing and 251 farming households in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and quantify the different components of vulnerability, deriving specific livelihood-related vulnerability scores. By merging and analyzing differential food security variables and vulnerability scores using ordered logistic models, we find that vulnerability to the “triple challenge” increases the probability of being in a severe food insecure state, particularly for households with a high dependency ratio. Parallel to this finding, we note that access to social capital and opportunities for livelihood diversification could drive gains in income, enhancing the capacity of households to attain a food-secure status in the face of recurrent instabilities. This study advances vulnerability literacy in food-insecure contexts and reveals ways to support populations on the frontline of interacting conflict, climate, and environmental crises.

Digital technology holds significant potential for enhancing business efficiency in agricultural marketing. However, empirical research on the use of digital technology among smallholder farmers engaged in staple crop marketing in Sub-Saharan Africa remains limited. Recognizing the pivotal role of digital technology in agriculture, this study aims to analyse and synthesize existing knowledge regarding the impact of mobile phones on market participation among smallholder farmers. Through a comprehensive analysis, we seek to provide a robust understanding that can inform policies and programs aimed at enhancing smallholder market integration. To achieve this objective, we collected cross-sectional data from 360 farmers in southeast Nigeria and implemented a double hurdle model to analyse market participation decisions and the extent of farmers’ involvement in staple crop markets. In addition to traditional econometric methods, we employed propensity score matching to further investigate the impact of mobile phone ownership on market participation. Our analysis revealed that ICT tools, particularly mobile phones and radios, significantly influence both the decision and intensity of market participation among smallholder farmers. Specifically, mobile phones were found to play a crucial role in facilitating access to market pricing information and disseminating knowledge on improved production methods. Given the volatility of farm prices, the timely dissemination of market information through mobile phones is essential for farmers to make informed decisions. With a high percentage of mobile phone ownership and substantial investments in mobile networks in Nigeria, the digitalization of extension services and marketing information delivery systems could catalyse rapid improvements in agribusiness and marketing. This shift towards digital platforms has the potential to address information asymmetry, particularly among smallholder farmers, thereby fostering greater market integration and economic empowerment within rural communities.

Much of the empirical studies on crop varietal adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa relied on self-reported adoption in farm-household surveys, which is prone to measurement errors. In addition, farmers’ perceptions of consumption-related varietal traits in adoption studies has received limited attention compared with production-related traits. Using DNA-based and self-reported adoption measures, we analyze the adoption of improved cassava varieties (ICVs) with a focus on the extent of varietal misidentification, the sensitivity of the drivers of adoption to varietal misidentification and the role of farmers’ perceptions of biofortification trait in adoption decisions. We find that the adoption rate of ICVs is relatively high using both DNA-based and self-reported adoption measures, but there is notable misclassification in varietal adoption. We find that the mismatch in DNA-based and self-reported adoption measures leads to some variation in the factors that influence the likelihood and intensity of adoption of ICVs. This suggests that appropriate varietal identification helps in better understanding of the drivers of adoption. In addition, we find that despite the observed varietal misclassification, farmers’ perceptions of biofortification trait is significantly correlated with the probability and intensity of adoption of ICVs using both DNA-based and self-reported varietal identification. This suggests that inclusion of biofortification trait in cassava matters for both the likelihood and extent of adoption of ICVs. The latter lends credence to the emerging policy interests in breeding programs for biofortified crops to address hidden hunger in Nigeria.

There is overwhelming evidence to suggest that climate shocks undermine food security and livelihood well-being of the climate-impacted Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Employing survey data collected from farming and fishing households in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, the study investigated the range of adaptation practices prevalent in the region, as well as factors influencing the adoption of these adaptation strategies. Five hundred and three (503) households (252 fishing households and 251 farming households) were selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Multinomial logit model was used to determine factors affecting the household choice of adaptation strategies. The results show that adaptation strategies adopted by farming households were livelihood diversification (78.5%), crop management (77.7%), and soil and water management (64.5%). Factors influencing their choice of adaptation strategies were age, gender, household size, education, extension, and farm size. The adaptation strategies employed by the fishing households were livelihood diversification (83.61%) and intensification [which include the use of improved fishing gears (80.33%), varying fishing locations (67.21%), and expanding area of fishing (40.98%)]. Uncovering the heterogeneity in adaptation and resilience aspects to climate shocks has immense practical significance, particularly in providing targeted assistance for the two livelihood groups’ adoption.

In Nigeria, agribusiness has a major role to play in the transformation of the agricultural sector. Little is known about the key performance indicators relevant to the agribusiness sector. This article employed the latest World Bank Enterprise Survey data to investigate and compare the links between firm characteristics and performance at micro-, small-, medium-, and large-scale agribusinesses levels. The result of the analysis showed that the small-scale agribusinesses have a higher performance score compared to the larger scales of agribusinesses and that education, firm size, the gender of the top manager, and political instability significantly predict performance. Thus, boosting agribusiness performance should start by encouraging small-scale agribusinesses. This article provides perspectives for a nuanced understanding of how an increased emphasis on small agribusinesses can lead to a more robust agribusiness sector and outlines a forward-looking and integrated research agenda for increasing performance across scales.

This study examined factors influencing inorganic fertilizer use among rice farmers in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. A total of 120 rice farmers were purposively selected and used for the study. Data were collected by use of interview schedule and analyses were conducted using frequency, percentage, mean score and regression. Results showed that the respondents applied mostly urea fertilizer (54.2%) usually once (55.8%) on rice farm using broadcast method (100%). The amount of fertilizer applied per hectare in rice farm was 85.63kg. Rice farmers’ inorganic fertilizer use were influenced by number of years spent in school, years of experience in rice production, total size of farm used for rice, total annual income earned from rice production and number of extension agent visit. Surprisingly, rice output (t =1.243; p≥0.05) had no significant influence with inorganic fertilizer use. Government through the ministry of agriculture should organize workshops and train farmers on inorganic fertilizer use so as to enhance adequate use. Also, government and other relevant stakeholders in agriculture should ensure that inorganic fertilizers are available, accessible and affordable to farmers at all time so that they could maximally utilize it in rice production.