(a) Previous studies on climate change
Climate is an essential determinant for agriculture. In regions like Central America, the climate is quite variable and there are problems related to droughts and floods that directly affect food production. Also, climate related insect infestations, weeds and diseases tend to cause damage in developing countries such as those in Central America (Diana et al., 2013).
The specific case of South America was addressed by Mendelsohn and Seo (2007). Using data from 2,000 farmers, they found empirical evidence of the effect of climate change on agricultural activities. In the study, the producers’ choices (to work in agriculture or animal husbandry or install irrigation) were modeled, and they tested whether their decisions were influenced by climatic variables like temperature or precipitation. The results show that both the choice of activity and the use of irrigation are climate sensitive. Farmers are more likely to choose to work in agriculture in colder temperatures, while those in dry …show more content…
Mean temperature have increased by at least 1.5 times the observed global average of 0.650c over the past five decades and extreme rainfall events have increased in frequency. These changes are likely to continue: the 2013 South Africa long term Adaptation scenario and the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR5) for representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 suggest warning relative to 1986 – 2005 of 3 - 60c by 2081 – 2100 in the interior, yet less certain precipitation changes in terms of both direction and magnitude. Climate change poses a significant threat to South Africa’s water resource, food security, health, infrastructure as well as its ecosystem service and biodiversity. Considering South Africa’s high level of poverty and inequality, these impacts pose critical challenges for national
Climate is an essential determinant for agriculture. In regions like Central America, the climate is quite variable and there are problems related to droughts and floods that directly affect food production. Also, climate related insect infestations, weeds and diseases tend to cause damage in developing countries such as those in Central America (Diana et al., 2013).
The specific case of South America was addressed by Mendelsohn and Seo (2007). Using data from 2,000 farmers, they found empirical evidence of the effect of climate change on agricultural activities. In the study, the producers’ choices (to work in agriculture or animal husbandry or install irrigation) were modeled, and they tested whether their decisions were influenced by climatic variables like temperature or precipitation. The results show that both the choice of activity and the use of irrigation are climate sensitive. Farmers are more likely to choose to work in agriculture in colder temperatures, while those in dry …show more content…
Mean temperature have increased by at least 1.5 times the observed global average of 0.650c over the past five decades and extreme rainfall events have increased in frequency. These changes are likely to continue: the 2013 South Africa long term Adaptation scenario and the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR5) for representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 suggest warning relative to 1986 – 2005 of 3 - 60c by 2081 – 2100 in the interior, yet less certain precipitation changes in terms of both direction and magnitude. Climate change poses a significant threat to South Africa’s water resource, food security, health, infrastructure as well as its ecosystem service and biodiversity. Considering South Africa’s high level of poverty and inequality, these impacts pose critical challenges for national