International Journal of Advances in Sciences, Vocational and Technical Education

Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in Nigeria, driven by low agricultural productivity and limited use of improved seed technologies such as certified maize seeds. Despite evidence of their benefits, adoption of certified maize seeds remains inconsistent, and there is limited empirical evidence on their impact on household food security in Enugu State. This study therefore assessed the effect of certified maize seed adoption on household food security among maize farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. The study was conducted using a cross-sectional survey design. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 maize farmers, comprising 57 adopters and 63 non-adopters of certified maize seeds. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and binary logistic regression models to examine adoption determinants and the effect of certified seed use on food security. Certified maize seed adoption was found to significantly improve household food security. About 64.9% of adopting households were food secure compared with only 6.3% of non-adopting households. Logistic regression results showed that adoption had a positive and statistically significant effect on household food security. Household size and annual farm income were significant factors influencing adoption decisions. The study concludes that certified maize seed adoption significantly improves household food security among maize farmers in Enugu State. Strengthening access to certified seeds and improving farmers’ economic capacity could enhance adoption rates and contribute to improved food security outcomes.

This study evaluated the effects of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) on the productivity and income of smallholder maize farmers in Kano State, Nigeria. The programme was introduced to improve agricultural productivity through enhanced access to loans, farm inputs, extension services, and structured markets. Two specific objectives were set to guide the study. A descriptive survey research design was used, with a population that consisted of 11,353 smallholder maize farmer beneficiaries. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 246 respondents as the sample size. A structured questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection with a standardized reliability coefficient of 0.826. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and the hypotheses were tested using linear regression. The findings revealed that participation in the ABP had a positive and statistically significant effect on both maize productivity and farmers’ income. The programme’s loans and farm inputs were available and accessible to smallholder maize farmers (P=0.000). Beneficiary farmers recorded higher yields and income levels compared to non-beneficiaries. The study concluded that while the ABP improved productivity and income among maize farmers in Kano State, its impact was limited by implementation inefficiencies. The study recommended strengthened inputs delivery systems, improved monitoring, and enhanced extension support to maximise programme outcomes.