Unpacking the Nexus between Climate Change and Maize Production in Nigeria: A Bound Test Approach to Integration

Abstract The dilemma of decreasing agricultural production in the face of rapid population growth in Nigeria is being made worse by the growing threat of climate change. This suggests that food security and rural sustainability are at risk. Given that various crops have varying climate needs, specific crop analyses are necessary. This study therefore used time-series data between 1979 and 2020 to examine the connection between climate change and maize production in Oyo State, Nigeria. The relevant data were collected and analyzed using a bound testing (autoregressive distributed lag) approach. The results confirmed the long-term equilibrium between maize yield and temperature, rainfall, and relative humidity. The results revealed that climatic variables are vital to maize productivity in Oyo State and Nigeria. Therefore, the findings are relevant for designing coping interventions (long-term and short-term) to address the impact of climate change on maize yield in Oyo State and Nigeria overall.