If climate change means more intense and more frequent drought, what will that mean for agricultural production? A case study in Northern Australia

Tran, Lai Thi, Stoeckl, Natalie, Esparon, Michelle, and Jarvis, Diane (2016) If climate change means more intense and more frequent drought, what will that mean for agricultural production? A case study in Northern Australia. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 23 (3). pp. 281-297.

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Abstract

We examine the influence of drought and a variety of factors on agriculture in Northern Australia. Assuming constant prices, and using data collected from northern land managers, we estimate a Cobb–Douglas production function and use coefficients from the model to estimate the financial losses associated with drought. We find that drought-affected properties earn about half as much as other 'similar' properties. We then ask: How much does that 'cost' the industry, on average, and how would those costs change if droughts were to become more, or less widespread under climate change? Our estimates indicate that under the current climatic regime, the Northern Australian agricultural industry loses, on average, about 19% of output to drought each year: this could fall to 10% or rise to 40% under current climate projections. Although focused on Northern Australia, the findings have wider implications for management and adaption, given the magnitude of impacts and their likelihood to extend beyond the 'official' end of drought. Investments in climate-proof crops, on-farm management techniques and financial arrangements to help producers deal with a range of climatic risks, for example, should thus be priorities.

Item ID: 43727
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 2159-5356
Keywords: climate change; drought; agricultural production; Northern Australia; Cobb–Douglas production function
Funders: National Environmental Research Program, Australian Government (NERP), James Cook University (JCU)
Projects and Grants: NERP Northern Australia Hub Project 1.3
Date Deposited: 12 May 2016 23:30
FoR Codes: 38 ECONOMICS > 3899 Other economics > 389902 Ecological economics @ 100%
SEO Codes: 91 ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK > 9199 Other Economic Framework > 919902 Ecological Economics @ 40%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9603 Climate and Climate Change > 960303 Climate Change Models @ 30%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9610 Natural Hazards > 961003 Natural Hazards in Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Environments @ 30%
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