The impact of climate change on agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe (1980-2022)

Author

Mukarombwa, Mardalene

Title

The impact of climate change on agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe (1980-2022)

Abstract

The study is looking into the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity in
Zimbabwe. The study first did a literature review on climate change on agricultural
productivity around the world and in Zimbabwe. The study aims to investigate empirically
from 1980-2022. The background of climate changes around the world was explored to
understand the problems that are being faced by those in the agricultural sector. The
autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model is used in the study to examine the data. The
variables under control were, control of corruption, precipitation, government effectiveness,
government expenditure, temperature and agricultural productivity and the data is being
found on World Bank Development indicators, World Bank’s Climate Change Knowledge
Portal and Food and the Agricultural organization. The dependent variable in the regression
model is agriculture value added as a percentage of GDP.
The findings showed that in the short run, temperature, precipitation, government
effectiveness, and control of corruption had a negative impact on agricultural productivity,
while government capital expenditure had a positive impact. In the long run, precipitation,
control of corruption, and government capital expenditure continued to have a negative
impact on agricultural productivity, whereas government effectiveness had a positive
impact. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the relationship between climate
change and agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe. It highlights the short and long-term
impacts of climate variables and government-related factors on agricultural productivity.

Date

June 2024

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Climate Change

agricultural productivity

Zimbabwe

Supervisor

Dr. B. Nkala