Effect of Climate Change on Selected Tuber Crops (Sweet Potato and Yam) in Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue IX, September 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Effect of Climate Change on Selected Tuber Crops (Sweet Potato and Yam) in Nigeria

Olapade-Ogunwole, Folayimi

Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics & Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract: – Climate change is emerging as the most important environmental problem facing the country due to increases in atmospheric stocks of greenhouse gases (GHG), including carbon dioxide (CO₂) methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), which occur by human activities have been linked to global climate change.The study hence, examined the effect of climate changes on the selected tuber crops in Nigeria. The study was to investigate the effect of climate change on tuber crop yield in Nigeria, define clearly the ranges of possible climatic effect, identify critical threshold and economic implication and explore adaptation.
The data used were sourced for from various issues of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Statistical Bulletin and FAOSTAT Database of Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nation Agrostat Database. The data covered a range of 1961 – 2015 (55years). The data collected for this study was analyzed using, simple descriptive statistics, inferential statistics which involves the use of multiple regression. The average percentage land area yam yield is 63.91% while that of sweet potato cultivation is 11.82%.
The regression analysis estimated the impact of climate change on tuber crops yield.

Keywords: Climate change, sweet potatoes, yam, Nigeria.

I. INTRODUCTION

Climate change is emerging as the most important environmental problem facing modern society. Increases in atmospheric stocks of greenhouse gases (GHG), including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N2O), due to human activities have been linked to global climate change (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 1990, 2007). The Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (2007) emphasizes that there will be changes in the frequency and intensity of some weather events and extreme climate events which will likely challenge human and natural systems much more than gradual change in mean conditions. According to this report it is virtually certain (more than 99% probability of occurrence) that most land areas will have warmer and fewer cold days and nights. It is also very likely that most areas (between 90 to 99% probability of occurrence) will have warmer temperature, more frequent heat waves and heavy precipitation events. More drought, tropical cyclone, and incidence of extreme high sea level are also likely.

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