CLIMATE AND RICE PRODUCTION IN A PART OF THE NIGER RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AREA (NRBDA)
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Date
2010
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Nigerian Meteorological Society
Abstract
The study examined the impact of climate on, rice production in the lower Niger River Basin of Edu/Lafiagi Local Government Area of Kwara State. Data on rice production, hectare put into production and yield were correlated and regressed on climatic parameters of rainfall amount, number of rain days, relative humidity, evaporation, maximum and minimum temperatures. Also onset and cessation of rain were / computed. The result revealed a downward trend in rainfall amount and number of rain days but air temperature was constantly high throughout the period of study. Annual changes in percentage yield fall with increase changes in hectares put into rice cultivation. The critical climatic parameters for the optimum production of . rice as identified are number of rain days and minimum temperature. Number of rain day exhibited a strong positive relationship of 0.53 while a strong negative relationship of -0.50 is established between minimum temperature and rice yield. Suggestions were made on different coping strategies that can be adopted 'to improve yield.
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Keywords
Production, raindays, climatic parameters, annual changes