Climatic variability is one of the major problems of Nigeria’s agricultural system and production. This paper examines the effects of rainfall and temperature variability on the yield of millet and cowpea in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Thus, information on yields of millet and cowpea, temperature and rainfall spanning the period of thirty years (1988-2018) were obtained for this study. The yield data for millet and cowpea were obtained from National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaisons Service (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, while data for rainfall and temperature were derived from Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet) Abuja. Trend analysis of climatic and yield data was carried out using Microsoft Excel Tool (2017). The relationship between rainfall and temperature data, millet and cowpea data were tested using bivariate correlation analysis. The result of the trend analysis showed that rainfall increases from 1988-2018 but yield rate declines. The results of the correlation analysis showed a weak relationship between rainfall data and yield. In view of this, it was recommended that, there is need for the development of a comprehensive agricultural and climate change policy that considers the risks associated with millet and cowpea production among farmers of the study area and Nigeria as a whole.
Keywords: Climate Change, Correlation, Rainfall, cowpea, millet, temperature
