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Climate change, chemical fertilisers, and sustainable development – panel evidence from Tanzanian Maize farmers

Author

Listed:
  • Christiane Heisse
  • Risa Morimoto

    (Department of Economics, SOAS University of London, UK)

Abstract

We study the impact of rainfall risk on fertiliser use by Tanzanian maize farmers using newly available spatially disaggregated agronomic survey data on Tanzanian maize producers. We show that fertiliser use is highly sensitive to rainfall risks. Our discussion embeds these findings into the wider debate around environmental sustainability and mineral fertilisers, thus relating directly to the country’s government efforts of climate mainstreaming into their (agricultural) policies. We conclude that chemical fertilisers are useful for agricultural productivity growth but that they should be used to supplement more economically and environmentally sustainable practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Christiane Heisse & Risa Morimoto, 2019. "Climate change, chemical fertilisers, and sustainable development – panel evidence from Tanzanian Maize farmers," Working Papers 217, Department of Economics, SOAS University of London, UK.
    • Handle: RePEc:soa:wpaper:217
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    File URL: https://www.soas.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-10/economics-wp217.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiangying Guo & Jiwei Chen, 2022. "The Impact of Heavy Rainfall Variability on Fertilizer Application Rates: Evidence from Maize Farmers in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Sabine Liebenehm & Huong Jaretzky & Hermann Waibel, 2023. "Extreme weather and agricultural management decisions among smallholder farmers in rural Thailand and Vietnam," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 54(5), pages 593-622, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Climate change; fertilisers; sustainable development; Tanzania; Maize farmers; panel analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • R15 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Econometric and Input-Output Models; Other Methods
    • R28 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Government Policy

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