Abstract
This study employs a Ricardian
approach to measure the impact of climate change on smallholder farmers’
crop production-based revenue in Togo. A regression of farmer’s revenue
on climate, soil and other socioeconomic variables was conducted to
capture farmer-adapted responses to climate variations.
The
analysis was based on cross-section data of the National Agricultural
Census conducted during 2012-2013 agricultural season and average
long-term temperature and rainfall data from 1961 to 2013 pooled over
the 35 districts of Togo. Results indicate that climate has a nonlinear
effect on net revenue from crop production. In rainy season, the
marginal impact of the temperature on farmers’ net revenue is negative,
while the one for the rainfall is positive. The scenarios of decrease of
the rainfall and/or increase of the temperature are very detrimental to
Togolese agriculture, because of the already harsh climatic conditions
in the country.
The analysis of farmers’ perception of climate
change reveals a high increase in temperature and a high variability in
rainfall pattern. Education attainment, farming experience, access to
extension services and credit as well as climate information are factors
that enhance farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change and
variability.
Consequently, the government should design policies aimed at improving the aforementioned factors.
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