<strong></strong><p>Food production in Nigeria is largely dependent on natural environmental resources like rainfall, temperature and relative humidity. This study examined the impact of some of these climatic variables on food production in Nigeria from 1975 to 2010. Secondary time series data obtained from FAOSTAT (Food and Agriculture Organization statistics) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency were used for the study. The data were analyzed using some econometric tools such as Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test, Johansen Test and Vector Error Correction (VEC) Estimates. The ADF test reveals that relative humidity integrated at order zero level while rainfall and temperature and agricultural output were stationary after differencing at level 1 thus showing that the variables had relationship. The results of the Johansen co-integrated test revealed that there is one co-integrating equation at 5% showing a co-integrating relationship between agricultural output and the climatic variables. The Vector Error Correction Estimates indicated that rainfall was positively significant at 5% to food production on the short run indicating that vagaries in climate especially rainfall affected food production and output in Nigeria. It was recommended, therefore, that measure that could help to mitigate the adverse effects of inadequate rainfall e.g. irrigation, drought resistant crops varieties among others should be put in place by the government. Farmers should equally be sensitized and trained in the area of adaptation and mitigation of the effect of climate change as this will go a long way to ameliorate large scale failure in food production in the country.</p>
This paper examines the predominant role of soil resource as an integral factor that could influence the prospective contributions of agriculture to the green economy. It identifies soil as a natural resource that must be sustainably managed to maximize the contribution of agriculture to the production of food to feed the bourgeoning human population in Nigeria as well as reduce poverty level of the people. If agriculture is to contribute meaningfully to the transition to green economy, the soil issue must be taken seriously. To this end, the paper highlights certain factors that affect soil productivity which must be addressed to enhance the contributions of agriculture towards the realization of a green economy. These include soil erosion, soil salinity, perennial flooding, desert encroachment and drought, soil mismanagement and misuse which result in the decline in soil fertility. The paper therefore recommends pragmatic actions that must be taken to address these problems such as land-use management system like agroecology, agroforestry, scientific crop rotation system, no-till cultivation and appropriate application of soil improvement fertilizer, among others.
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