458-469
THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
Authors: Toungos Mohammed Dahiru (Ph.D.) , Hassans Tanko (Ph.D.)
Number of views: 706
The Earth's temperature is rising as a result of increased atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse
gases. As the Earth warms, currently wet regions are expected to receive more rainfall, and
currently dry regions receive less. Nigeria and indeed Northern Nigeria is not an exception. Crop
production is one of the most vulnerable systems and heavily affected by climate change in Nigeria
and more particularly in the Northern part of the country where the presence and prevalence of
drought is mostly felt. Crops are mostly flooded and are rendered less productive by flood, in
addition to extensive dependence on rainfed farming coupled with high poverty level of the people
of the region. Major crops cultivated in the region include groundnuts, beans, cotton, soybeans,
sesame, cashew nuts, mango, cassava, yam, gum arabic, maize (corn), melon, millet, , plantains,
rice, sorghum, bananas, yams, pepper, coffee, carrots, sugarcane, soybeans, with major producing
states of soybeans as Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Kwara, Jigawa, Taraba, Borno, Benue,
Bauchi, Sokoto, Plateau, Zamfara and Abuja FCT are now facing yield depreciation. Most of these
crops are facing problems such as flower abortions, wrong flowering and fruiting time and
generally low yields due to the effects of climate change. As rainfall becomes more variable,
farmers no longer are able to rely on their knowledge of the seasonality of climatic variables. It is
recommended that, series of awareness in terms of seminars, symposiums, farmers field days
should be conducted to the farmers to enlighten them on the knowledge of modern techniques of
crop production, such as the use of early maturating seeds, drought resistance varieties and more
especially the use of irrigation in order to boost crop production in the region. Weather focused
information should be made available to the farmers in the form of short message (SMS) in
addition to informing them on weather both in print media.