Assessment of the Changing Pattern in Maize Cultivation in Sokoto-Rima River Basin, Nigeria

J O Adejuwon

doi:10.4314/jasem.v22i9.12

Abstract

Maize, a monocotyledonous crop, grown for grain and forage, is the most important cereal crop in sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the changing pattern in maize cultivation in Sokoto-Rima River Basin, Nigeria. Questionnaire was administered to 450 respondents from 15 agricultural settlements in 15 local governments in the study area, using clustered sampling technique. Data was analyzed using frequency counts, percentage and pairwise ttest. Results showed that 20 maize varieties exist in the basin. Ten of the twelve varieties planted in 1970's are still being cultivated, two varieties no longer exist while 8 varieties were newly introduced at the time of this investigation. Yellow maize known as ‘Ja Masara’ (40.19%) was the most popular variety in the 1970's. This was closely followed by white maize called ‘Fari Masara’ (39.57%). These two varieties still accounted for over 70% in 2000’s, with white maize accounting for 46.76%. The cultivation of yellow maize decreased by 13.43% while white maize increased by 7.19%. Yellow maize known as project variety ‘Yar Project’ (8.73%) is a new variety that is gaining popularity among the farmers. The pairwise t-test result showed no significant difference between the past and present varieties planted. The factors that determine choice of the varieties cultivated include resistance to pests and diseases, personal preference, yield, the period of maturity and resistance to drought. The cultivation maize in the Basin haves increased by 7.19% over time from 71.7% to 78.89%.Keywords: maize varieties, changing pattern, Sokoto-Rima River Basin

Highlights

MATERIALS AND METHODSThe Study Area: The study area, Sokoto-Rima River Basin lies between Latitude 10.8oN and 13.58oN and longitude 3.30oE and 7.13oE (Figure 1)
Maize (Zea Mays) originates in the Balsas River Valley of south-central Mexico in Central America where it was domesticated by indigenous people about 10,000 years ago, dispersed into lower Central America by 5600 BC and had moved into the interAndean valleys of Colombia between 5000-4000 BC (Piperno, 2011; Kennett et al, 2015)
It was introduced into Guinea and the Congo in Africa by the Portuguese in the 1500's and has since become one of African's dominant food crops (McCann, 2001; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), 2009)

Summary

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Study Area: The study area, Sokoto-Rima River Basin lies between Latitude 10.8oN and 13.58oN and longitude 3.30oE and 7.13oE (Figure 1). Humidity decreases to a mean value of 20 or 25% in January and April while diurnal values may fall from 50% at dawn to 10% in the afternoon, which is characteristic of the Harmattan when the dry and dust-laden North East trade winds are blowing from the Sahara under cloudless but dusty conditions. This period is marked with very cold temperatures and dust-laden winds often accompanied by a thick fog of alarming intensity. A pairwise t-test was used to examine the difference in maize varieties between the past and the present

AND DISCUSSION

Findings

Conclusion