An Assessment of the Trend and Projected Future Values of Climatic Variables in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

This study assessed the trend and projected future values of climatic variables in the Niger Delta Region. Annual mean time series data of climatic variables from 1971 to December 2007 were collected from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) for the study. Multistage sampling techniques were used in the random selection of states, local government, communities and rural farming households. Data were analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the rural farming households in the region. Line graph was used to determine the trend of the climatic variables (temperature, and rainfall) and Growth model was used to predict the future values of climatic variables (temperature, and rainfall) in the Niger Delta Region. Most rural farming households were married and headed by male with a mean household size of 10 persons. Primary school level of education dominated rural farming households with a low annual income of N73, 896 ($480) per annum. There was an increasing trend in mean annual temperature but a decreasing and increasing trend in mean annual rainfall values. The statistical projected future values of mean annual temperature and mean annual rainfall show an increasing trend in the Region. It is recommended that Meteorological station units should be established in the rural farming area especially in the Niger Delta region where accessibility is extremely difficult. This will make available meteorological data (information) to the reach of the poor rural farming household for their Agricultural production and for the attainment of food security status in the Region.