Assessment of the Impact of Rainfall Variability and Vegetable Production in Bamenda III Sub-Division, Cameroon

Abstract

Climate variability has a direct bearing on agricultural production. The relationship between temperature and rainfall provides ideal conditions for the development of crops in rain-fed agricultural systems. This is patent in predominantly rain-fed vegetable production exposed to rainfall variability. This study assesses the impact of rainfall variability on vegetable production in Bamenda III Sub-Division. The data on rainfall was collected for 54 consecutive years (1963–2017) and analysed using Rainfall Anomaly Index to determine the Inter-Annual Rainfall Anomalies. This was to determine the extent of rainfall variability impacts on vegetable production. Results revealed a reliable but fluctuating periodical rainfall rates with highest positive and negative anomalies of +60mm and -55mm respectively. With a Standardized Precipitation Index of 0.41, there was evidence of an increasing trend in decadal rainfall and positive trend on conditions for vegetable cultivation. The high variability of rainfall is associated with a reduction in vegetable production output. Such rainfall variability plays a major role in vegetable production which is generally rain fed. The study posits that stakeholders’ responsive adaptation options in cropland management for vegetable production in the phase of rainfall variability are credible in reversing the increasing negative impact of rainfall variability in the context of climate change.