Impact of Climate Change and Bio-Fuel Production on Agricultural Commodity Price Variability in Nigeria and Niger and Possible Alternative Strategies for Food Production, Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development.

The effects of climate change and biofuel production on food prices and agricultural development in Niger and Nigeria were studied. The study aims to provide suggestions for possible policies that would help local farmers to improve their farming systems and efficiency. A mixed research method in order to triangulate data was employed. The opinions of 294 respondents that include local farmers, agricultural commodity traders and enterprises, and farmers associations were surveyed and collated. The responses represent the micro level assessment of the current agricultural situation in the areas studied. The opinions expressed were validated using historical data for the period 1990 to 2010. The secondary data was analyzed against food price indicators using Spearman correlation and regression analysis. The results of the survey were confirmed by the results of the statistical analyses of the secondary data. Climate change was rated by the farmers as a hindrance in their production, statistical analysis have shown that it affects food prices, wherein decrease in volume of rainfall has been seen to decrease food yield thus increasing food prices.