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EFFECTS OF RAINFALL VARIABILITY ON THE YIELD OF SOYBEANS AND FARMERS’ ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TOWARDS FOOD SECURITY IN KONSHISHA LGA, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

AUTHORS: 1ELISHA IKPE, 2PATRICK I. UKOH and 3JUDE G. IKPE

1Department of Geography, Federal College of Education, Odugbo, Benue State
2 Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Usmanu Danfodio University,
Sokoto
3Department of Agribusiness Management, Federal Cooperative, Kaduna
Corresponding Author’s Email/Phone Number:
elishabethy@gmail.com
Mobile: +2348065665954

E JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES VOL. 18 (ISSUE 1), 2024
www.confluencejournal.com.ng ISSN: 1597-5827

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the effects of rainfall variability on the yield of soybeans and farmers’ adaptation strategies towards food security in Konshisha Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria. Rainfall and soybeans yield data for 33 years (1988-2021) were sourced and used to characterise the climate of the study area and to show the relationship between rainfall and the yield of soybeans. Three hundred and seventy-four farmers were purposively sampled. Structured questionnaire and Key Informant Interviews (KII) were used to elicit information from the farmers. Descriptive statistics were employed in the analysis of the data. Likert scale for frequency level were used and analysed using mean distribution. The Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used to show the relationship between rainfall variability and the yield of sorghum in the study area. The trend lines of Annual Rainfall Amounts (ARA) and sorghum yield data shows an increase in rainfall and the yield of soybeans. Results of the Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient (r) at 0.05 significance level shows an indirect/negative and non-perfect relationship (r=-0.3035) between rainfall and soybeans yield. The results further showed that increase in rainfall amounts led to decrease in soybeans yield at the study area. The climatic analysis showed that Long-Term Mean (LTM) of ARA was 1224.3mm and increased at the later periods of the data showing a significant rainfall rise. Based on the findings, the study recommended the use of improved seed varieties, late planting and that government at all levels, farmers’ cooperative societies and farm extension agents should consistently educate farmers on the dynamics of weather and climate; agricultural research institutions in Nigeria should develop more cultivars and early maturing seeds to boost crop production in order to ensure food security.

Key words: Farmers; Rainfall; Soybeans; Variability, Yield