76
Nigeria that rainy days and rainfall amount had strong positive relationship with
maize yield (r = 0.747 and r = 0.599, respectively). In addition, Adamgbe and Ujoh
(2013) observed that rainfall characteristics jointly contributed 67.4% to explaining
the variations in the yield of maize in Nigeria.
The increased yields of the respective crops as observed by the respondents were
attributed to use of improved crop varieties, irrigation, and application of fertilizers.
However, the general decrease in the yields of most crops was due to the prevalence
of new diseases, high labor demands, and high costs of production, especially when
planting is done late in the season. For the case of rice, respondents observed that
the cost of “bird scaring” was high, especially in the month of September when the
crop is at its tasselling stage and birds have limited food alternatives. Other effects
of ECV reported by respondents include reduced income from agricultural activities, increased household food insecurity, and loss of investment capital. A respondent gave the example that before the 1990s, the yield of rice per hectare was
4250 kg compared to the current yields that are between 2250 and 2500 kg per
hectare. Declining yields result in reduced commodity quantities available for the
market, hence low income from agricultural activities, which in turn leads to low
investment capital. Ultimately, declining yields, low income, and loss of investment
capital result in household food insecurity.
Effect of Climate Variability on Cultivable Crop Area
During the discussions with respondents regarding ECV on cultivable crop area, it
was observed that ECV affected the cultivable area for various crops, and the effects
varied with the type of crop. In both farming systems, male and female respondents
reported an increase in cultivable area for rice albeit the proportion of females
(42.8%) was higher than that of men (30.8%). It was also found that more males
(22.8%) reported an increase in cultivable area for groundnut compared to females
(10.2%). However, for the other mentioned crops, the percentage of female and
male respondents who observed an increase in cultivable land were lower and relatively similar as shown in Fig. 5. The increase in rice cultivable area was attributed
to the introduction of new upland rice varieties, which came as a result of increased
demand for food and the gains that were emerging from the highly demanded upland
rice in the market.
Comparatively, the percentage of male and female respondents who indicated
increases in crop cultivable areas were lower than those who reported decreases in
the same (see Fig. 6). This shows that majority of both males and females reported
a decline in cultivable areas for the mentioned crops. Findings further show that
more female respondents reported a decrease in cultivable area for almost all crops,
with the exception of the cassava crop, compared to their male counterparts. The
percentage of male and female respondents who observed a decrease in fallow land
were more, compared to the proportion of male and female respondents who
reported a decrease in cultivable area for the crops. A two-sample t-test between
proportions was performed to determine whether there was a significant difference
T. Akongo and C. Chonde
Nigeria that rainy days and rainfall amount had strong positive relationship with
maize yield (r = 0.747 and r = 0.599, respectively). In addition, Adamgbe and Ujoh
(2013) observed that rainfall characteristics jointly contributed 67.4% to explaining
the variations in the yield of maize in Nigeria.
The increased yields of the respective crops as observed by the respondents were
attributed to use of improved crop varieties, irrigation, and application of fertilizers.
However, the general decrease in the yields of most crops was due to the prevalence
of new diseases, high labor demands, and high costs of production, especially when
planting is done late in the season. For the case of rice, respondents observed that
the cost of “bird scaring” was high, especially in the month of September when the
crop is at its tasselling stage and birds have limited food alternatives. Other effects
of ECV reported by respondents include reduced income from agricultural activities, increased household food insecurity, and loss of investment capital. A respondent gave the example that before the 1990s, the yield of rice per hectare was
4250 kg compared to the current yields that are between 2250 and 2500 kg per
hectare. Declining yields result in reduced commodity quantities available for the
market, hence low income from agricultural activities, which in turn leads to low
investment capital. Ultimately, declining yields, low income, and loss of investment
capital result in household food insecurity.
Effect of Climate Variability on Cultivable Crop Area
During the discussions with respondents regarding ECV on cultivable crop area, it
was observed that ECV affected the cultivable area for various crops, and the effects
varied with the type of crop. In both farming systems, male and female respondents
reported an increase in cultivable area for rice albeit the proportion of females
(42.8%) was higher than that of men (30.8%). It was also found that more males
(22.8%) reported an increase in cultivable area for groundnut compared to females
(10.2%). However, for the other mentioned crops, the percentage of female and
male respondents who observed an increase in cultivable land were lower and relatively similar as shown in Fig. 5. The increase in rice cultivable area was attributed
to the introduction of new upland rice varieties, which came as a result of increased
demand for food and the gains that were emerging from the highly demanded upland
rice in the market.
Comparatively, the percentage of male and female respondents who indicated
increases in crop cultivable areas were lower than those who reported decreases in
the same (see Fig. 6). This shows that majority of both males and females reported
a decline in cultivable areas for the mentioned crops. Findings further show that
more female respondents reported a decrease in cultivable area for almost all crops,
with the exception of the cassava crop, compared to their male counterparts. The
percentage of male and female respondents who observed a decrease in fallow land
were more, compared to the proportion of male and female respondents who
reported a decrease in cultivable area for the crops. A two-sample t-test between
proportions was performed to determine whether there was a significant difference
T. Akongo and C. Chonde