influence of sustainable farming techniqueson food security outcomes among smallholder farmers in Kaga local government area Borno state, Nigeria

Abstract

Food security remains a critical development challenge in Nigeria, particularly in conflict-affected and environmentally vulnerable regions such as Borno State, where agricultural productivity is constrained by declining soil fertility, climate variability, pest infestations, and unsustainable farming practices. This study evaluated the influence of sustainable farming techniques on food security outcomes among farmers in Kaga Local Government Area, Borno State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study assessed farmers' knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices and examined the effects of integrated pest management, soil management, safe pesticide handling, and challenges associated with sustainable farming practices on sustainable food security outcomes. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Primary data were obtained from 398 respondents selected through simple random sampling using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression implemented in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicated that 73.9% of the respondents possessed knowledge of sustainable farming practices. Regression analysis demonstrated that sustainable farming techniques exerted a statistically significant influence on food security outcomes (R² = 0.446; F = 79.188; p < 0.001), accounting for 44.6% of the observed variation in sustainable food security among respondents. Safe pesticide handling emerged as the strongest positive predictor of sustainable food security (β = 1.167, p < 0.001), whereas integrated pest management (β = -0.628, p < 0.001), soil management (β = -0.257, p = 0.006), and challenges associated with sustainable farming practices (β = -0.198, p = 0.002) exhibited statistically significant inverse relationships with food security outcomes within the study context. Consequently, the null hypothesis was rejected, confirming that sustainable farming techniques significantly influence food security among farmers in the study area. The study recommends strengthening agricultural extension services, expanding farmer capacity-building on sustainable farming techniques and safe pesticide handling, improving access to agricultural credit and extension support, and implementing policies that promote environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. These interventions are expected to enhance agricultural productivity, improve household food security, and advance sustainable rural development in Nigeria.