TITLE:
Case Study: Emerging Advantages of Climate Change for Agriculture in Kano State, North-Western Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Moses Okemini Nwagbara
KEYWORDS:
Climate Change, Trends, Crop Production, Animal Production
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Climate Change,
Vol.4 No.3,
June
23,
2015
ABSTRACT: The current climate change is affecting the environment in diverse ways. Some of the effects are
good and some others bad. The good side has not been given its deserved attention in Nigeria, nor
has it in most parts of the world. Some areas are becoming warmer and wetter, which could enhance
agriculture. This paper therefore examined the rainfall and temperature trends as tools of
climate change over Kano State, north-western Nigeria, which is an area well known for agriculture.
Rainfall and temperature data covering a period of 43 years (1971-2013) were collected and
analyzed using the moving averages, regression and correlation statistics. Results obtained showed
gradual but steady increases in both temperature and rainfall. The results indicate that Kano State
is warming at an average annual rate of 0.011°C and becoming wetter at a rate of 21.26 mm per
annum. An implication of this increased rainfall for farmers in the area is the opportunity to increase
crop and animal production. This is because more rainfall can now be harvested. Also, soil
moisture, rivers, dams, and ponds are being recharged more, thus making water more available
and longer lasting for crops and animals.