Adoption and Scaling of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices among Smallholder Cassava Farmers in Taraba State, Nigeria

This study examined the adoption and scaling of climate- smart agricultural practices (CSA) among smallholder cassava farmers in Taraba State, Nigeria. A total of 316 farmers were selected using a multi- stage sampling technique. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, an adoption index, and binary logistic regression. Findings showed that 62. 3% of respondents were male, with a mean age of 42. 5 years, an average farm size of 2. 2.8 hectares, and a mean of 14. 2 years of cassava farming experience. Access to credit was reported by 45. 6% of farmers, 58. 2% had extension contacts, and 63. 9% belonged to farmer associations. The adoption index indicated that 67. 1% of respondents had adopted at least one CSA practice, with a mean adoption intensity of 2. 83 out of 4, reflecting moderate adoption. Binary logistic regression revealed that age (β = 0. 024), gender (β = 0. 315), education (β = 0. 067), farm size (β = 0. 091), years of farming experience (β = 0. 035), access to credit (β = 0. 488), extension contact (β = 0. 126), association membership (β = 0. 341), and CSA training (β = 0. 562) positively influenced adoption, while household size (β = −0. 051) had a negative effect. Constraint analysis showed that limited access to credit (80. 4%), high input costs (78. 5%), inadequate training (75. 0%), lack of extension support (69. 9%), and poor market access (67. 1%) were the most severe constraints to adoption and scaling. Other notable constraints included low awareness of CSA, pest and disease incidence, climate- related shocks, and inadequate government support. The study concludes that CSA adoption among smallholder cassava farmers is driven by socio- economic, institutional, and training factors, while financial, knowledge, and infrastructural barriers hinder scaling. Strengthening extension services, improving credit access, implementing targeted training, and promoting farmer associations are recommended to enhance adoption and scaling of CSA practices.