EFFECTS OF RAINFALL VARIABILITY ON CASSAVA PRODUCTION IN IFELODUN AREA OF KWARA STATE

Abstract

The primary focus of this study work has been on the relationship between rainfall variability and cassava production in Ifelodon Area of Kwara State Six station were chosen to cover the whole state rainfall data for each station for the period of ten years (1986-1996) were used in the analysis An attempt was made by determine how rainfall variations affect the production of cassava during the period of ten years Thus amount of rainfall deviation from the mean, climatic index, onset, cessation and length of rainfall (LRS) were discussed Also discussed were the relationship between each of the above climatic parameters and cassava through the use of existing statistical techniques such as climatic index regression analysis etc the result reveals that most of these parameters have close relationship with cassava production. The Annual trend in cassava yield indicate that the periods characterized with high rainfall amount had high yield of cassava. However, there are periods with high rainfall but low yield which show that high amount of rainfall alone does not account for high yield but with other climatic factor combined In correlating length of rainy season with cassava yield for the period of the year considered, it was observed that fluctuation in length of rainy season led to fluctuation in cassava yield