Cropping Systems, Adaptive Livelihood, and Household Resilience among Maize Farmers in Nigeria

Appropriate cropping systems and livelihood diversification are central to sustainable intensification and the resilience of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study provides micro-level evidence on cropping choices, livelihood diversification strategies, perceived outcomes, and the socio-economic determinants of diversification among maize-producing households in Ondo State, Nigeria. Primary survey data were collected from 120 maize farmers across two purposively selected Local Government Areas. The analysis combines descriptive statistics with binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with diversification into (i) livestock production and (ii) non-farm income-generating activities. The results indicate a moderate level of on-farm diversification: 45.8% of households practice intercropping, with cassava (54.6%) and beans (13.2%) being the most common companion crops. Off-farm diversification strategies include livestock production (28.3%) and informal non-farm activities (30.0%), predominantly petty trading. Farmers perceive diversification as primarily contributing to household income stabilization and enhanced resilience to market shocks, while its perceived effects on food quantity and farm productivity are comparatively limited. The most binding structural constraints reported include limited access to arable land, inadequate extension services, inconsistent policy signals, and volatile market prices. Econometric results reveal pathway-specific drivers of diversification. Households whose primary occupation is farming are significantly more likely to diversify into livestock production (odds ratio ≈ 2.3), whereas younger and female-headed households are significantly more likely to engage in non-farm activities. In contrast, membership in farmer associations and regular contact with extension services are unexpectedly associated with significantly lower odds of both livestock and non-farm diversification, suggesting an institutional dynamic that warrants further investigation. Overall, the findings identify actionable policy entry points, including secure and flexible land access arrangements, reoriented extension services that promote diversified livelihood portfolios, market-stabilization measures, and gender-sensitive enterprise support. Such targeted interventions can help transform diversification from a short-term coping mechanism into a productive pathway for inclusive rural development.