Impacts of Climate Variability on Tuber Crops in Guinea Savanna Part of Nigeria: A GIS Approach

Abstract

The study developed a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) database and mapped inter-annual changes in tuber crop yield as a response to inter-annual rainfall variability in the Guinea Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria. It also related the spatiotemporal variability in rainfall with tuber yields. Two major tuber crops were used for this study (i.e. Cassava and Yam). Kriging and other GIS techniques were used for the spatial analysis. Also, correlation and regression analysis were carried out on the dataset. The study fund out that rainfall varies from one year to the other (550mm to 2987mm). The results showed that there were significant relationship between tuber yield and total rainfall (r= 0.68, at p<0.05 for cassava; and r= 0.62, at p<0.05 for yam). The study concluded that geospatial techniques are ample tools that should be explored further for realistic assessment of the effects on climate of farming activities.

Perceptions paysannes et impacts des changements climatiques sur la production et la diversité variétale de l’igname dans la zone aride du nord-ouest du Bénin

“…Ce résultat était attendu puisque le régime pluviométrique est le facteur climatique le plus important qui influence les activités agricoles (Ayanlade et al, 2010). La baisse de productivité signalée par les producteurs comme principal impact des changements climatiques sur la culture de l'igname a été aussi indiquée sur d'autres cultures telles que le niébé (Ajetomobi et Abiodun, 2010), le riz (Nwalieji et Uzuegbunam, 2012) et le sorgho (MacCarthy et Vlek, 2012).…”

Modelling the impacts of climate variability on crop yields in Nigeria: performance evaluation of RegCM3-GLAM system

“…Ajetomobi and Abiodun, ; Ekpoh, ) used statistical modelling techniques to investigate the relationship between crop yields and climate (rainfall and temperature) variability over the country. Ayanlade et al () applied Geographical Information System (GIS)/remote‐sensing approach to study the inter‐annual changes in (tuber) crops in response to rainfall and temperature variability between 1970 and 2000 over the Guinea Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria. Adejuwon () adopted erosion productivity impact calculator (EPIC) to forecast present‐day and future crop yields of some staple food crops over Nigeria as a case study for sub‐Saharan West Africa.…”

Effect of Climatic and Non-Climatic Factors on Cassava Yields in Togo: Agricultural Policy Implications

“…A positive effect of rainfall on cassava yields is also reported by [29] for the Guinea Savanna part of Nigeria. In contrast to the findings by [28,29], Emaziye [30] reports a positive effect of increasing temperature on cassava yields in Nigeria, but a negative effect of increasing rainfall. Through cointegration analysis, Mbanasor et al [31] find a positive short-term but negative long-tern effect of rainfall on cassava yields, and a consistent negative effect of temperature in both the short and the long term.…”

“…Despite its resilience, a report on crop substitution behaviour among food crop farmers in Ghana found a significant negative effect of increasing maximum temperature on cassava yields, but a significant positive effect of rainfall and increasing minimum temperature [28]. A positive effect of rainfall on cassava yields is also reported by [29] for the Guinea Savanna part of Nigeria. In contrast to the findings by [28,29], Emaziye [30] reports a positive effect of increasing temperature on cassava yields in Nigeria, but a negative effect of increasing rainfall.…”