THE IMPACT OF CLIMATIC VARIABILITY ON YAM PRODUCTION IN SHIRORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Climate is described as change as long-term in the statistical distribution of weather pattern over a period of time that ranges from decade to millions of years. Rainfall characteristics in Nigeria have been examined for secular change that is, dominant trend and the results show that there has been a progressive early retreat of rainfall over the whole country spanning up to a half a century now and consistent with this pattern there has also been a significant decline of rainfall frequency. This study assessed the impact of climate variability on yam yield in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. It examined the trends in rainfall over Shiroro Local Government Area (1998-2018); examine the trend of yam yield in Shiroro Local Government Area; Analyse the relationship between rainfall variability and yam yield of Shiroro Local Government area, and examine the adaptive and mitigative measure for effects of climate variability on yam yield. Qualitative and quantitative research approach was used, rainfall records for 30 years (1988-2018) and yam yield record for 20 years (1998-2018) and structured questionnaire was used. Trend, correlation and descriptive analysis were used. Findings revealed that rainfall between 1998 and 2018 have a slightly decreasing trend in the study area and annual yield of yam was observed that 2016 has the highest record of yam yield in the study area with 2923.73 metric tons, followed by 1999 with a 2873.36 metric tons of yam yield. Years 2010 recorded the lowest yield of yield with 2411.45 metric tons. It revealed a positively weak relationship thus r = 0.46 (46%). It means that rainfall variations are very crucial to the yield of yam and has a significant value of 304. Different strategies were adopted to cushion The effects of rainfall on yam yield and the most used method with 83.1% use early maturing crop variety. The study concludes that rainfall in the study area has been inconsistence (fluctuating). The nature of rainfall in relation to Yam yield for the study period and as of recent years has been making the yields inconsistence (fluctuating).It thereby recommends that there should be climate monitoring stations for every agricultural zones of Nigeria and there should be time to time awareness and enlightment campaign on the causes of climate change in various parts of the country.