The Effect Of Climate Variability On Crop Production In Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to determine the relationship between climatic variation and

agricultural production as well as to identify their impact in Makurdi Local Government

Area. The research went further to determine effective weather for livestock production in

Fiidi, Wailomayo, Wadata, agan, Bar, Mbalagh, market Clark, modern market, NorthBank

1, Northbank II and Mission Wards which constitute the study area.

The result shows that there is marked inter annual variations in the rainfall factors and

insignificant variation in average temperature while maize, rice and groundnut yields

shows an increasing trends from 1990-2009.

In addition, the factors of rainfall and temperature account for about 29% variation in

maize, 58% in rice and 60.1 % in groundnuts yields while annual rainfall has higher

influence over temperature in the study area.

Similarly, the research also shows that rainfalls characteristic are most important climatic

factors in maize, rice and groundnut production in Makurdi. Other factors as temperature,

humidity, soil, weeds, pests and diseases has little effects.

Finally in the study area as researched, temperatures do not seem to affect reproductive

cycle of livestock.

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