With the frequency and gravity of droughts, excessive heat and over reliance on rain fed agriculture, there is a mounting crisis in agricultural productivity, declining food availability of the households and the danger posed to countries whose prospect of national economies are dependent on agriculture. Nigeria is one of the nations that is confronted by the impact of climate change. Whereas most of the states in the northern part of the country that are acknowledged to be the major food producers of Nigeria, faced the climatic threats, which make them vulnerable and highly susceptible to climate change that became a major challenge to the nation food security.
Evidently, Katsina state is not exempted from the climate change effects, being in an area situated within semi-arid to Sahel in the extreme north- western part of Nigeria. The area is characterized with desertification, drought, and scanty rainfall especially the northernmost part. A recent climate change emergence was witnessed in the year 2021 cropping season. The Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), released by Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) projected an annual rainfall commencement from 7th–28th June 2021 and was estimated to last the length of 108 to 146 days (5 months) (Nigeria Meteorological Agency [NIMET], 2021). However, a general dry spell of 3-4 weeks was experienced from June and July, which resulted in farmers’ substantial crops losses that necessitated for replanting thereby reducing both production and productivity due to late planting.
The study was therefore conducted across the State to explore the magnitudes of climate change on crop productivity, assess the affected of climate change on crops in the ecological zones and determine which crops and zone are most highly affected. The rainfall pattern and distribution indicate that rains begin from the Guinea Savannah in the southern part, by and large has the highest intensity, preceded by Sudan Savannah at the central part of the State, then to the least, Sahel Savannah in the northern part of the State, which is more prone to climate change catastrophe due to drought and desertification nature of the areas. The ecological zone majorly affected by climate change revealed that Sahel Savannah suffered most, in terms of area under cultivation, 292,200 hectares were affected (45.1%) and crops yield loss of 267,100 mt. (42.1%). This was followed by the Sudan Savannah with an area affected, 216,100 ha (33.3%) and crop loss of 209,000 mt. (33%) while the Northern Guinea Savanah was the least affected, even though significant, with an affected area of 140,000 ha (21.6%) and crop loss of 157,850 Mt. (24.9%). More so, the findings of the study in Table 3 revealed that sorghum, mostly grown in the Sahel Savannah, was most affected in terms of area affected, 190,250 ha (18%), however, crop loss was minimal at 8% (148,850 mt). This signified the resilience nature of Sorghum which makes it most suitable crop for climate change resiliency. Millet was also affected similar to Sorghum, with area affected of 190,800 ha, however suffered the greatest loss of 761,000 mt. (43%) of the year’s production. Others like maize; 178,650 ha (17%) affected, a crop loss of 37,100 mt (8%), rice had 160,925 ha (15%) area affected and a crop loss of 92,000 mt. (5%). Soybean and cowpea (late maturing) had 153,750 ha (14%), crop loss of 105,100 mt (6%) and 140,833 ha (13%) affected and crop loss of 200,000 mt. ((6%) respectively. Groundnuts (peanuts) was the least affected by area; 67,833 ha (6%) but with a loss of 310,000 mt. (18%) crop loss.
Whereas variations of loses exist within the zones, as in the case of Northern Guinea Savannah (maize and rice) were least affected and being the large potential production area (29). On the other hand, in both Sudan and Sahel Savannahs crops such as sorghum, millet, cowpea, rice, soybean, groundnut and maize were mostly affected. The findings of the study further indicated that 60% of farmers in the State experienced one loss of crop or the other, ranging from 50–100%. Accordingly, results of the analysis in Table 3 assert that, Millet, Groundnut, Cowpea, were amongst the top major crops affected by highest losses, all of which are majorly produced in the Sahel savannah agro- ecological zone.
Citation: Abdullah, A. Y. (2025). The Impact of Climate Change On Some Selected Crops Under Different Agro-Ecological Zones in Katsina State, Nigeria During The 2021 Cropping Season. Adv Earth & Env Sci; 6(4):1-6. DOI : https://doi.org/10.47485/2766-2624.1075