Assessing the Spatial Correlation Between NDVI and Agricultural Productivity in Benue State

Satellite-derived vegetation indices offer a cost-effective approach to monitoring crop productivity across extensive agricultural landscapes. This study assesses the spatial correlation between NDVI derived from Sentinel-2 imagery and agricultural productivity data for yam, sorghum, and cassava in Benue State. Seasonal NDVI composites for the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons are computed for 18 sentinel plots across six LGAs, with concurrent crop yield measurements obtained from field surveys. A mixed-effects spatial regression model relates NDVI at peak season to measured crop yields, controlling for soil type, rainfall, and management intensity. Results indicate strong positive correlations between peak-season NDVI and yam yield (r = 0.83) and sorghum yield (r = 0.77), while cassava shows a weaker relationship due to its extended growth period extending beyond peak NDVI. County-level yield maps produced from NDVI extrapolation are validated against Benue State Agricultural Development Programme's administrative yield estimates, demonstrating acceptable agreement. Keywords: NDVI, crop yield, spatial correlation, Benue State, agricultural productivity