TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED STAPPLE CROPS YIELDS FROM 1997-2018 IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigates the temporal trends of selected crop yields like (maize, soya beans, beans, yam, sweet
potato, ground nut, cassava, rice and millet) in Niger State, Nigeria. Simple linear trend model and mean
model were used to derive the time series and find the slope and intercept to determine the trend of crop yields,
using data from Niger State Agricultural Development Programms. Results of the trend analysis showed
significant spatial variability in crop yield, that cereal crops like maize, millet and rice yield were on constant
increasing trend in 2008, 2016 and 2018 years respectively across the study area. Temporal trends also
indicated declining yields for Soya beans and cassava which showed a positive trend of Y=0.047x-93.04 with
the R2
of 10% of weak positive linear model which implies a constant decrease in their yield in most of the
years under study. The study recommends targeted interventions, such as climate-resilience agricultural
practices and soil conservation measures, to enhance crop productivity