Yield Sensitivity of Some Crops to Climatic Factors and Enterprise Models for Adoption of Maize Breeds in Nigeria

Abstract

Crops resilience and resistance to climate change varies from different ecological systems. The paper attempts to explore the sensitivity of yield of different staple crops in Nigerian tropical ecosystem to changes in climatic variables and recommend enterprise models for multiple cropping of the most sensitive crop to improve food security. Secondary data were sourced from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statistics and Nigerian Meteorological stations for 1970–2014. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were employed to examine the sensitivity of cereals, tubers and perennial crops to climatic factors. The results showed that maize as a cereal was the most sensitive crop to all climatic variables such as temperature, humidity and rainfall; while yam as a tuber was more sensitive than cocoa tree as a perennial crop. The paper discusses potentials and strategies for using early maize and extra early maize varieties by farmers in overcoming climate change effects on maize production. It further examined timeliness of using the varieties for planning lucrative enterprises to meet early and late maize markets in Nigeria. The paper is optimistic that with the proper use of improved climate tolerant breeds, farmers can stomach effects of climate change on maize production.