Nature and extent of air pollution and climate change related stresses on cocoyam production in Nigeria

There has been a dramatic decline in cocoyam production in Nigeria in recent years due to climate related stressors. We investigated the nature and extent of these impacts and the resilience building strategies used by cocoyam farmers in Nigeria. Data were collected from the farmers in 2010 and 2017 and from FAO statistical database. Results show a yield decline from 8mt/ha in 2005 to 4mt/ha in 2016, due to acid rain, causing bleaching of cocoyam leaves, die back, smaller tubers, early decay of the tubers and decline in the quality and taste of the tubers. Kinds of climate change impact include unusual early rains followed by weeks of dryness, delay onset of rain, long period of dry season, higher temperature, drought and high rate of disease incidence. Resilient building strategies adopted by the farmers were planting deeper or shallower, processing tubers, intensive manure application, multiple cropping and mixed farming.