2026 Vol-6 Issue-2 | ASSESSMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT MECHANISMS AND ADOPTION OF CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN ARDO-KOLA LGA, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Climate change has continued to reduce agricultural productivity and increase the vulnerability of smallholder farmers in Nigeria, making the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) increasingly important. Despite its potential to improve resilience and productivity, the adoption of CSAremains constrained by inadequate institutional support. Specifically, the study identified the major CSApractices adopted, assessed farmers' access to institutional support services, determined the socioeconomic and institutional factors influencing CSA adoption, and evaluated farmers' perceptions of the effect of institutional support on the sustainability of CSA adoption. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, and primary data were collected from 100 smallholder farmers selected through a multistage sampling technique using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and a five-point Likert scale. The results showed that improved crop varieties (88%), crop rotation (84%), and organic manure application (81%) were the most widely adopted CSA practices. Farmers had moderate access to institutional support (Grand Mean = 3.17). Education, farm size, farming experience, extension contact, access to agricultural credit, cooperative membership, farmer training, and policy awareness significantly influenced CSAadoption (Pseudo R² = 0.389; p < 0.05). Farmers also perceived institutional support as having a strong positive effect on sustaining CSA adoption (Grand Mean = 4.22). The study concludes that strengthening institutional support will enhance CSA adoption among smallholder farmers. It recommends improving extension services, farmer training, access to affordable credit, cooperative development, and climate information delivery.