HOW CHANGES IN CLIMATE AFFECT CROP YIELDS IN EASTERN INDIA

Abstract

Climate change wreaks havoc on the planet’s ecosystem, affects weather patterns and undermines food security. This paper investigates the effect of changing climate on Indian agriculture, and the climate sensitivity of food grain yield in the eastern region. Using a panel set of physical crop yields and analyzing district-level data from 1990 to 2017, the study estimates agricultural production functions for specific food grains with extrinsic seasonal weather variables. These include average temperature, rainfall, evapotranspiration and wind speed. Spatially disaggregated district-level data provides information from low administrative units, creating a broader picture to be examined. The research indicates that climate change significantly affects east Indian agriculture, and its outcomes are consistent with other state and district-level studies conducted in India. Changing weather patterns over the year considerably influence crop production and disrupt food availability and quality. Hence, the study further expands the implications of results for inter-region inequality and recommends corrective measures.