ABSTRACT
The output of cereal farmlands is imperative for sustainable global food security. Quantity of production from cereal croplands are partly a function of climatic elements and are connected to the pulses of climatic variation. Hence, this paper assessed temperature variability effect on rice production in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Daily maximum and minimum temperature data were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and converted into monthly averages while annual rice production data was obtained from the office of Nasarawa State’s Agricultural Development Programme. Acquired data were analysed using Linear Multiple Regression Model, coefficient of variation and spatial data analysis techniques. Although rice production in the State is being affected by the fluctuations in both minimum and maximum monthly temperature, the later poses grave concern for sustainability of rice production with a negative effect size of -3.145 and a coefficient value of -191,324.30 metric tons. This negative impact of maximum temperature fluctuations on rice production indicates that rice production in Nasarawa State is vulnerable to climate variability with increasing maximum temperature. LGAs in the south senatorial district has more favourable locations for rice production in comparison to those in the North and West districts given that less temperature fluctuation was observed in the former. Government and non-governmental institutions as well as individuals planning to establish rice farm project(s) in the study area should consider doing so in the South Senatorial District in order to avoid the adverse effect of temperature variability.
ABSTRACT
An evaluation of management in Nigeria with focus on Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State was carried out. The study made use of ASTER data of 2017 with spatial resolution of 30m, topographical map at a scale of 1:50,000, monthly rainfall data for 35 covering the study area and soil map at a scale of 1:50,000. Thematic maps for soil, rainfall and elevation were produced converted to raster data in GIS environment. Each data set in a single map was given weight by pair-wise comparison; reclassification of each map was done based on the weights generated from the pair-wise comparison of each dataset. The weights generated revealed that rainfall with 46 as its weight has the greatest influence on flood occurrences in the study area. Elevation accounted for weights of 24, slope accounted for 12 while drainage density, soil and LULC accounted for 10, 8 and 3 respectively. The settlements of Gumbi, Yauri, Unguwa Damisa, Zamare and Jijima that make up the study area lie along the zone of very high flood vulnerable land. Among the causes of flooding, excess rainfall and coastal location of the various settlements are responsible for flooding. Besides, the relief of the study area is such that encourage flooding as all the settlements are situated along the river course. The predominant coping and adapting strategies adopted to check flooding in the study area are temporary relocation and the raising of the floor of their houses among others.