Influence of Climate Change on Cocoyam Production in Aba Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examined the influence of climate change on cocoyam production in Aba agricultural zone of Abia State. Data for the study was collected using a participatory pair-wise ranking technique from Key cocoyam farmers, village chiefs and Agricultural extension agents in a Focused group discussion and in-depth interview. Findings revealed that the major occupation of the people in the area is farming while the major crops grown are yam, cassava and plantain. Cassava ranked first as the major source of both income and food. On the average, size of farm is 0.3 ha while land acquisition is majorly by inheritance and leasing. The major source of labour is family members and hired labored. The cocoyam cultivars grown in the area are Edeocha, Ede Uhie, okpanambe, and Ede ofe. Farmer’s previous harvest and neighbor are the major source of planting material. Major cropping pattern done in the area is mixed cropping while crops planted with cocoyam include Maize, groundnut and vegetables. Farmers aim of producing cocoyam is for consumption and sometimes sales. All farmers agreed that there is a change in the climate of their zone. The major climate variables that is changing and as well affecting cocoyam production in the zone according to the farmers are rainfall, heat (atmospheric temperature) and sunshine (solar radiation) while the major influence of climate change on cocoyam production include decline in yield of cocoyam, reduction of soil fertility, uncertainty in planting and harvesting date, stunted growth of cocoyam, increase in decay of planted corms/cormels and increase loss during storage in the barns. The study then recommends that access to and cost of fertilizer should be enhanced and subsidized by the Government, this will help farmers to have access to fertilizer thereby overcoming the problem of soil fertility reduction. It further recommends that improved storage facility should be put in place to reduce the huge loss encountered during storage.