Can Climate Change Affect Agricultural Output in Nigeria?

Abstract

Changes in the climatic conditions in Nigeria is posing serious threat to the economic survival of the nation. This study, the effect of climate change on agricultural output in Nigeria is important and critical in determining the policy direction of the state especially given the negative impact it has on the source of livelihood of her citizenry. The major objective was to find out how climate change impacted on agricultural production. An econometric model was employed as a guide in estimating the relationship among the variables.  The findings revealed a positive relationship exist between government expenditure, exchange rate, rainfall and agricultural output. However, temperature and inflation had negative relationship but were significant at 5% and 10% respectively. It was recommended that government increase its budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector, enact policies deliberately targeted at mitigating the effect of climatic change on agriculture, empower farmers via subsidies, improved seedlings and soft loans through the relevant agencies, and invest in irrigation so farmers would not only depend on rainfall to grow their crops.

KEY WORDS: Nigeria, Climate change, Temperature, Agricultural output, Rainfall, Government.

DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-6-08