Question

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

Match each agricultural region of Nigeria listed on the left with its characteristic crop production system or pastoral activity on the right.

  • Southwestern Rainforest Zone (Ondo, Oyo, Ogun states)Commercial tree cash cropping (cocoa, oil palm, and kola nut)
  • Northern Sudan Savanna Zone (Kano, Katsina, Sokoto states)Drought-tolerant grains (millet, sorghum), groundnut, and nomadic cattle pastoralism
  • Benue River Valley / Middle Belt (Benue, Nasarawa states)Intensive root and tuber crop farming (yam, cassava), functioning as the country's food basket
  • Jos Plateau Highland Zone (Plateau state)Sub-temperate crops (Irish potato, temperate vegetables) and specialized dairy livestock

Answer

Southwestern Rainforest Zone matches Commercial tree cash cropping; Northern Sudan Savanna Zone matches Drought-tolerant grains, groundnut, and nomadic cattle pastoralism; Benue River Valley / Middle Belt matches Intensive root and tuber crop farming; Jos Plateau Highland Zone matches Sub-temperate crops and specialized dairy livestock.
Agricultural zonation in Nigeria aligns with ecological belts: the humid Southwestern forest belt produces tree cash crops (cocoa, kola); the dry Northern Sudan Savanna favors cereal grains, groundnuts, and cattle pastoralism; the Middle Belt serves as the primary tuber belt (yam, cassava); and the cool Jos Plateau highland allows sub-temperate crop cultivation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the climatic and environmental conditions of each geographical region.
Identified heavy rainfall in the Southwest, dry low-humidity plains in the North, transitional river basins in the Middle Belt, and high-altitude cool climates on the Jos Plateau.
Agricultural crop belts in Nigeria follow a strict south-to-north latitudinal climatic and rainfall gradient.
2
Pair each region with the specific crops and livestock practices adapted to its environmental factors.
Rainforest supports tree cash crops; Sudan Savanna supports grains and tsetse-free pastoralism; Middle Belt supports yams/cassava; Jos Plateau supports sub-temperate crops.
Temperature, annual rainfall duration, soil type, and pest vector presence dictate agricultural land-use specialization across Nigeria.

Key Concept

Spatial Distribution of Agricultural Systems and Crops in Nigeria
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