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Difficulty: MediumAgricultural Systems, Crop Production, and Pastoralism in Nigeria

In Nigeria's agricultural zonation, states located within the Middle Belt—such as Benue, Nasarawa, and Niger—are major producers of tuber crops like yam and cassava, yet commercial tree crops such as cocoa and oil palm fail to yield sustained economic output in these areas. Which climatic factor is primarily responsible for limiting the commercial cultivation of tree crops in this zone?

  1. An extended dry period accompanied by insufficient total annual moisture relative to the southern rainforest belt.Answer
  2. B
    Severe frost damage caused by high-elevation winds during the winter months.
  3. C
    Continuous waterlogging resulting from heavy equatorial rainfall throughout the entire year.
  4. D
    Excessive soil salinity caused by coastal ocean tides encroaching into the savanna plains.

Answer

An extended dry period accompanied by insufficient total annual moisture relative to the southern rainforest belt.
Perennial tree cash crops such as cocoa, oil palm, and rubber require humid tropical forest conditions with high annual rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year. The Middle Belt lies within the Guinea savanna zone, where a marked dry season of several months creates a moisture deficiency that tree crops cannot survive commercially. Consequently, the region specializes in tuber and grain crops suited to seasonal rainfall.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the ecological requirements of commercial tree crops.
Tree crops such as cocoa, oil palm, and rubber require high annual rainfall (over 1,500 mm to 2,000 mm) and consistently high humidity with a minimal dry season.
Perennial tree crops require sustained soil moisture to survive and produce commercial yields year-round.
2
Analyze the climatic characteristics of the Middle Belt (Southern Guinea Savanna).
The Middle Belt receives lower annual rainfall (1,000 mm – 1,500 mm) and experiences a distinct dry season lasting 4 to 5 months due to the influence of the Tropical Continental air mass.
This climatic envelope supports annual and root crops (yam, cassava, sorghum) that tolerate seasonal drought, but restricts perennial rainforest tree crops.
3
Evaluate the options to select the primary limiting factor.
The option citing an extended dry period and insufficient total annual moisture accurately explains the spatial limit of tree crops in Nigeria.
Climatic moisture deficit is the main factor preventing rainforest tree crop cultivation in savanna zones.

Key Concept

Climatic Controls on Crop Belts in Nigeria
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Agricultural Systems, Crop Production, and Pastoralism in Nigeria

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