Measures for Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change on Crop Production in Nigeria

D. A. Alawa, V. C. Asogwa, C. O. Ikelusi

Department of Agricultural Education, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria.
Department of Vocational and Special Education, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Department of Vocational Teacher Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ajcc.2014.32015                

Abstract

This paper examined the causes, effects and measures for mitigating climate change to ensure adequate supply of food through crop production to address the food insecurity which has occupied a central focus of the Nigerian economy. Unfortunately, crop production is fraught with many ecological challenges including climate change. This climate change which occurs as a result of the buildup of Green House Gases (GHGs) occasioned by industrialization, technological modeling and agriculture, exert significant effects on crop yield, water availability, ecosystem disequilibrium resulting in cases of drought, flood earthquake among others. For crop production to be scaled-up to meet the food requirement of the ever growing Nigerian population amidst these challenges, there is need to mitigate these adverse effects of climate change through the adoption of sustainable land management practices that can reduce the atmospheric stock of GHGs such as zero-tillage, appropriate use of fertilizers, avoidance of bush burning, graze land management, improved water management among others. Achieving great success in these areas requires that Nigerian government should be more proactive in their policies that hold promise for sustainable cultures in agricultural production as well as evolving global partnerships on ecological issues.

Keywords

Climate Change, Green House Gases, Global Warming, Mitigation, Crop Production, Food Insecurity

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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