THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

The Earth's temperature is rising as a result of increased atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. As the Earth warms, currently wet regions are expected to receive more rainfall, and currently dry regions receive less. Nigeria and indeed Northern Nigeria is not an exception. Crop production is one of the most vulnerable systems and heavily affected by climate change in Nigeria and more particularly in the Northern part of the country where the presence and prevalence of drought is mostly felt. Crops are mostly flooded and are rendered less productive by flood, in addition to extensive dependence on rainfed farming coupled with high poverty level of the people of the region. Major crops cultivated in the region include groundnuts, beans, cotton, soybeans, sesame, cashew nuts, mango, cassava, yam, gum arabic, maize (corn), melon, millet, , plantains, rice, sorghum, bananas, yams, pepper, coffee, carrots, sugarcane, soybeans, with major producing states of soybeans as Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Kwara, Jigawa, Taraba, Borno, Benue, Bauchi, Sokoto, Plateau, Zamfara and Abuja FCT are now facing yield depreciation. Most of these crops are facing problems such as flower abortions, wrong flowering and fruiting time and generally low yields due to the effects of climate change. As rainfall becomes more variable, farmers no longer are able to rely on their knowledge of the seasonality of climatic variables. It is recommended that, series of awareness in terms of seminars, symposiums, farmers field days should be conducted to the farmers to enlighten them on the knowledge of modern techniques of crop production, such as the use of early maturating seeds, drought resistance varieties and more especially the use of irrigation in order to boost crop production in the region. Weather focused information should be made available to the farmers in the form of short message (SMS) in addition to informing them on weather both in print media.