IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CROP PRODUCTION IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Climate change is accompanied by a number of changes in temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and other climate extremes. This is further compounded by drought and flooding, which bring about changes in crop productivity. The impact of climate change on crop production in Gombe state, Nigeria, was investigated in this study. The study employed secondary data from the Gombe State meteorological weather station, the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority Dadin-Kowa, and the Gombe State Agricultural Development Programme from 1996 to 2017. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the
Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) Bounds technique for cointegration. The outcome showed that climatic factors (temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall) have a major impact
on crop yield in the long- and short run. The study recommends that, to mitigate the
consequences of climate change, the use of ecologically friendly agricultural methods should
be encouraged.