Rainfall Variability and Yam Tuber Production Output in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State

Abstract

Rainfall Variability is a topical issue in the field of meteorology and climatology, as climate variability is affecting the whole world endeavours, (Intergovernmental Panel for Climate change "IPCC" 2007). This study examined the relationship between rainfall variability and yam tuber production output in the study area for the period of eleven years covering from 2006-2016. The research was carried in Lafia Locol Government of Nasarawa State and the primary objective was to assess the associntion between rainfall variability and variabil/ty of yam output in the study area. Eleven years annual rainfall data with annual yam production output data of Lafia Local Government were collected for the study. The analysis was carried out using Mann Kendall trend analysis methods with the aid of XI stat software tool in determining the extent of variability and the association line graphs. The result shows that rainfall variability has a significant association with yam output. Rainfall variability extent with yam output variability extent of Lafia have 20% and 37% coefficient of variance respectively. It was also concluded that, there exist a strong positive relationship between rainfall variability and the yam-tuber output for the period under study. It is therefore recommended that others researchers and relevant body should swiftly embark on an empirical analysis of impact of rainfall variability to yam yield output in Lafia