Abstract

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is increasingly recognized a sustainable pathway for enhancing soil fertility and improving food security. However, empirical evidence on its level of adoption and implications for food security remains limited in Nigeria. This study explores the relationship between INM adoption and household food security using panel data from the General Household Survey Panel for 2018/2019 and 2023/2024. The analysis combines descriptive statistics and panel fixed effects model to provide robust empirical evidence. The results reveal a decline in food security status from 87.9% in 2018/2019 to 79.4% in 2023/2024, indicating the growing vulnerability among farming households. The level of INM adoption remains very low among agricultural households in Nigeria, declining from 17.8% to 11% over the same period. The exclusive use of inorganic fertilizers decreased slightly from 24.2% to 21.1%, while the share of farmers using only organic fertilizers increased from 7.5% to about 10%. Notably, nearly half of the farmers (approximately 49%) did not apply any fertilizer. Despite these trends, the Fixed-effects regression results show that increase in INM adoption is associated with 4.8% improvement in food security. These findings highlight the importance of integrated soil fertility management practices in enhancing agricultural resilience and household welfare. Policy efforts should therefore prioritize gender-sensitive interventions, strengthen extension delivery systems and promote climate-smart strategies to support INM adoption and enhance sustainable food security outcomes in Nigeria.