Climate Change and Maize Production: Empirical Evidence from Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

An estimated 80% of the maize crop suffers periodic yield reduction due to drought stress. Drought at flowering and grain filling period may cause losses of 40-90%. Predicated on the argument that climate change resulted from changes in climatic elements such as rainfall, this study aimed at investigating the relationship between rainfall, among other factors, and maize crop production in Kaduna state over a period of 15 years. Time series data on aggregate maize production, fertilizer use, total area under cultivation with the maize crop and annual rainfall in Kaduna State for the period 1990-2005 were collected and analysed using multiple regression technique. Findings of the study showed that annual rainfall contributes significantly and positively to maize production in the study area inspite of climate change, indicating that climate change has not significantly altered the pattern of rainfall in the study area in such a way as to affect maize production negatively.