Impact of Rainfall Regime on Cocoa Production in Etung Local Government Area, Cross River State - Nigeria
Keywords:
Rainfall regime, cocoa production, climate change, rainfall intensity, EtungAbstract
This study examined the impact of rainfall regime on cocoa production in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The impetus for this study was provided by the declining trend in cocoa production coupled with the world-wide climatic change. Data for the study included rainfall amount, rainfall duration, rainfall intensity, temperature, relative humidity and total cocoa production from 1978 to 2007. The data were obtained from the meteorological station Ikom, Cross River state, Nigeria. The statistical techniques employed in analyzing the data included the times series using least square estimation method, multiple correlation and multiple regression. The result revealed a significant decrease in rainfall amount in the study area. Also, there exist a significant relationship between rainfall duration and intensity and cocoa production. It is recommended that farmers adapt to changing climate by cultivating the tolerable cocoa species to less rainfall in the area. It is highly recommended that data recording and management be improved to facilitate further water resource management research and development, based on reliable information. Government should establish an agricultural data-base centre where all information relating to agriculture can be obtained easily when is necessary. This will go a long way to solve the problem of non-available agricultural data and inconsistencies in the available ones, which have hampered planning in Nigeria overtime.
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