Abstract

Climate Change is increasingly one of the most serious national security threats which will have significant impacts on natural resources, ecosystem and biodiversity. At the same time, it is likely to trigger food insecurity, human migration, economic, and social depression, environmental and political crisis, thereby affecting national development. To analyze the climate change impact on agricultural productivity in Enugu state, the study used primary data that have been collected from Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme (ENADP) on productivity for four decades. Also, rainfall data for thirty years (1981–2010) were collected from Nigeria Meteorological Agency to generate seasonality index and reliability index. The data have been analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. Also, literatures were identified for review through a comprehensive search by using electronic and non-electronic databases. Related published literature and documents were searched in a systematic way using a range of key words relating to climate change impacts and agriculture. The study showed a general change in the seasonal rainfall regime. Rainfall regime in the state falls under a markedly seasonal regime with a long drier season; and a reliability of rainfall regime characterized by a more marked variability in the months of maximum rainfall. These changes are notable indicators of climate change. Again, the study showed that all the traditional crops with the exception of cassava and pepper had a significant field decrease as rainfall continued to be more erratic. The literature review indicates that climate change and agriculture both have double-barrel effect on each other. Reducing climate change – induced threats to agriculture that contributes to national development, there will be a need for farmers in Enugu to respond by planting different climate– adapted species, using pesticides and altering the dates of planting, harvesting and irrigation.

Keywords: Climate change; Rainfall; Seasonality index; Reliability index; Agriculture; Productivity