Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology

The environment and livelihoods of farmers in semi-arid sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly threatened by climate variability and ecosystem degradation. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is advocated as a strategy for resilience building, evidence of the structural pathways in which it operates is limited especially in fragile dryland contexts. This study aims to determine if and how policy interventions by community-supported agriculture enhance community resilience through the accumulation of livelihood capital and institutional mediation in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria. Data from 270 farming households were collected in Geidam, Nguru and Potiskum LGAs. A hierarchical multiple regression and structural equation modelling (SEM) test was performed to ascertain both direct and indirect effects on community resilience outcomes of the CSA interventions, livelihood capitals, and institutional mediation. CSA interventions play a significant role in predicting resilience at β= .62, p < .001, and account for 38% of the variance in the baseline models. By including the livelihood capitals, the explanatory power increases substantially with the R² value ranging from .76 to .82.  SEM confirms the significant pathway from CSA to capitals with the value of β = .68 (p < .001) and capitals to resilience with a value of β = .72 (p < .001).  More than fifty per cent of CSA's net effect works through capital accumulation.  Physical and natural capitals are the most important drivers of resilience, whereas institutional mediation is a moderate but significant driver, especially in more vulnerable LGAs. In Nigeria’s semi-arid northeastern zone, resilience formation is mainly asset rather than policy-driven. CSA primarily strengthens physical and natural capital systems to improve resilience. To achieve sustainable resilience in fragile dryland systems, effective climate adaptation strategies should be prioritised integrated asset-building especially physical infrastructure, ecosystem restoration and institutional strengthening.