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Climate Change and Agriculture: Subsistence Farmers' Response to Extreme Heat

Author

Listed:
  • Fernando M. Arag'on

    (Department of Economics, Simon Fraser University)

  • Francisco Oteiza

    (Department of Social Science, UCL Institute of Education)

  • Juan Pablo Rud

    (Department of Economics, Royal Holloway, University of London and Institute of Fiscal Studies)

Abstract

This paper examines how subsistence farmers respond to extreme heat. Using micro-data from Peruvian households, we find that high temperatures reduce agricultural productivity, increase area planted, and change crop mix. These findings are consistent with farmers using input adjustments as a short-term mechanism to attenuate the effect of extreme heat on output. This response seems to complement other coping strategies, such as selling livestock, but exacerbates the drop in yields, a standard measure of agricultural productivity. Using our estimates, we show that accounting for land adjustments is important to quantify damages associated with climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando M. Arag'on & Francisco Oteiza & Juan Pablo Rud, 2019. "Climate Change and Agriculture: Subsistence Farmers' Response to Extreme Heat," Papers 1902.09204, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2019.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:1902.09204
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Aragón, Fernando M. & Restuccia, Diego & Rud, Juan Pablo, 2022. "Are small farms really more productive than large farms?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    2. Francisco Costa & Fabien Forge & Jason Garred & João Paulo Pessoa, 2023. "The Impact of Climate Change on Risk and Return in Indian Agriculture," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 85(1), pages 1-27, May.
    3. Tran, Thi Xuyen, 2021. "Typhoon and Agricultural Production Portfolio Empirical Evidence for a Developing Economy," Working Paper 188/2021, Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg.
    4. Francisco Costa & Fabien Forge & Jason Garred & João Paulo Pessoa, 2020. "Climate Change and the Distribution of Agricultural Output," Working Papers 2003E, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.
    5. Tran, Thi Xuyen, 2021. "Typhoon and Agricultural Production Portfolio -Empirical Evidence for a Developing Economy," VfS Annual Conference 2021 (Virtual Conference): Climate Economics 242411, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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