Smallholder farms in Nigeria face significant challenges related to system reliability due to resource constraints and environmental factors. A systematic review of existing studies identified through databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. Key search terms included 'smallholder farms', 'Nigeria', and 'panel data analysis'. Panel data models were found to be robust in capturing the dynamics of smallholder farm systems, particularly when incorporating temporal and spatial dimensions. The systematic review highlighted the importance of longitudinal studies for understanding system reliability across different regions and time periods in Nigeria. Future research should prioritise replication studies using varying data sets to enhance model generalizability. Policy makers could benefit from adopting these methodologies to improve agricultural interventions targeting smallholder farmers. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.