Suitability Analysis for Yam Production in Nigeria using Satellite and Observation Data

Abstract

Identification of suitable areas for yam production is critical for ensuring yield in yam production in Nigeria. The study is aimed at determining suitable lands for yam production in Nigeria. Climate, soil, and environmental parameters that have a high contribution to yam production were used in developing a yam production suitability map using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The AHP was used in deriving weights through a pairwise comparison technique. According to the findings, highly suitable (HS), suitable (S), marginally suitable (MS), and not suitable (NS) regions accounted for 11.79, 82.68, 4.05, and 1.47% of the study area, respectively. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a measure of vegetation vigor, was higher in HS, followed by S regions, and then MS regions. Similarly, climate variables in HS regions were more favorable for plant growth, followed by S regions and MS regions. The correlation between precipitation and temperature is high and significant only in the HS class, despite the fact that NDVI and climate variables are significantly connected in all the suitability classes. The output map, thus determined, provides information on highly suitable, suitable or marginally suitable lands that are of practical importance to agriculturists.