The Economic Impact of Climate Change on Maize Production in Kenya
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Date
2013-03Author
Wandaka, Lewis M
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
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This study investigates the economic impact of climate change on maize production in Kenya
using the Ricardian approach. The general objective of the study is to conduct an assessment
of the potential impacts of climate change on maize production in Kenya and make
recommendations for strategies that could be adopted to mitigate the impact of climate
change. The study uses climate data drawn from ARTES (African Rainfall and Evaluation
system), soil data got from the Kenya Soil Survey conducted by the Kenya Agricultural
Research Institute and household data obtained from the Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural
Policy and Development. The Results of the study indicate that climate change has an
adverse impact on maize production in Kenya. According to the regression results, increase
in temperature between March and May and increase in precipitation between June and
August will have a negative impact. Increase in precipitation between March and May will
have a positive impact on maize production in Kenya. Overall, the study found that
temperatures have a larger effect on maize production compared to precipitation. Predictions
from nine out of the ten climate change scenarios used in the study indicate that maize output
will decrease by up to 23% by year 2100. In line with the results, the study recommends that
urgent measures be undertaken to mitigate the impact of climate change on maize production.
These measures include: research and development of agricultural technologies, investment
in irrigation infrastructure and dissemination of information to farmers on climate change and
possible impacts.
Citation
Degree of Master of Arts in EconomicsPublisher
University of Nairobi, Department of Economics
Description
A research paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in
Economics of the University of Nairobi