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

Arrange the following major Nigerian agricultural crop belts in order of their spatial distribution from South (lowest latitude) to North (highest latitude).

  1. 1Oil Palm and Rubber belt
  2. 2Cocoa and Cassava belt
  3. 3Beniseed (Sesame), Yam, and Maize belt
  4. 4Groundnut, Sorghum, and Millet belt

Answer

The correct sequence from South to North is: Oil Palm and Rubber belt, Cocoa and Cassava belt, Beniseed (Sesame), Yam, and Maize belt, and Groundnut, Sorghum, and Millet belt.
Agricultural crop belts in Nigeria follow a distinct South-to-North latitudinal gradient driven by decreasing annual rainfall and humidity. The Oil Palm and Rubber belt lies in the wet coastal south, followed by the Cocoa belt in the rainforest region, the Beniseed and Yam belt in the central Guinea Savanna (Middle Belt), and finally the Groundnut, Sorghum, and Millet belt in the dry northern Sudan savanna.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the extreme southern agricultural zone based on ecological requirements.
The Oil Palm and Rubber belt occupies the southernmost humid coastal forest zone.
Tree crops such as oil palm and rubber require heavy, year-round rainfall found along the Niger Delta and southern coast.
2
Identify the rainforest crop zone located just north of the coastal belt.
The Cocoa and Cassava belt dominates the rainforest zone of southwestern Nigeria.
Cocoa thrives in warm, humid forest environments with rich soils north of the coastal mangrove swamps.
3
Identify the central savanna crop region (Middle Belt).
The Beniseed (Sesame), Yam, and Maize belt covers the broad Guinea Savanna zone.
This region has moderate rainfall and a marked dry season, favoring tuber crops like yams alongside cereal grains like maize.
4
Identify the northernmost semi-arid crop zone.
The Groundnut, Sorghum, and Millet belt forms the northernmost agricultural zone.
Drought-tolerant grains and oilseeds adapt well to the low rainfall and long dry season of the Sudan savanna.

Key Concept

Latitudinal agricultural zoning in Nigeria dictated by rainfall decreasing from South to North.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Agricultural Systems, Crop Production, and Pastoralism in Nigeria

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