the minimum and maximum temperatures go up by 1 and 1.5 °C, the gain in the
yield is estimated to come down by 35 %. Kumar (2009) analysed the spatial
differences on the impact of climate variation on Indian agriculture. The study made
use of cross section data and used Ricardian approach for estimating the climate
sensitivity on farm net revenue. The study estimates suggests that impact of change
in climate can result in reduction of net farm revenue by 9 %. The estimates by
Guiteras (2009) suggest that change in climate is has a negative impact on the
combined yields of rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, maize and sugarcane. His study finds
that the yield is likely to reduce by 4.5–9 % during (2010–39) due to impact of
climate change. Study by Kumar (2011) reveals that the changes in weather condition has reduced the growing time of rice and sugarcane crops in UP and
Uttarakhand. While understanding the sustaining sugar productivity in the presence
of water depletion, Shrivastava et al. (2011) suggests that the cane productivity can
only be sustained with appropriate technologies that economize water, by cultivating different varieties and also drought tolerant varieties of cane with relatively
lesser water requirement will be advantageous in long run to sustain the cane
productivity. Moorthy et al. (2012) examined the impact of climate change on five
Indian major crops namely rice, wheat, sorghum, cotton, and sugarcane for a period
of 50 years (1961–2010). This study was closely related to the other two studies
done by Lobell et al. (2011) and Guiteras (2009). The estimates suggest that
temperature and rainfall trends had no significant impact on major crop yields.
Thus, the study concluded by emphasizing the role of error measurement in the
prediction outcomes. While Kumar and Sharma (2014) estimated the climate
change impact on sugarcane productivity using panel data methodology for a time
period of 30 years (1980–2009). The study results suggest that actual rainfall,
average maximum and minimum temperature were significant in determining
sugarcane productivity. Also, the average maximum temperature in summer and in
rainy season had a negative impact on the cane productivity. Though a plethora of
empirical estimates are found in the literature pertaining to climate change and its
impact on the productivity of the food crops in India, the empirical estimates
pertaining to sugarcane is not consistent. This can be due to the employment of
different methodologies, selection of appropriate variables, etc. For example,
Ramulu (1996) did not include climatic variables related to temperature while
estimating the impact of climate change on sugarcane productivity. The other
reasons could be the combined analysis of climate change on different crops, which
could have had different impacts (Krishnamurthy 2012; Sarker et al. 2012). For
example, Guiteras (2009) study combined different crops which are likely to be
impacted differently by climate change. In this regard the objective of this paper is
to understand to what extent is the influence of climatic factors on sugar cane
productivity in Karnataka.
392
A.B. Chandran and K.N. Anushree
yield is estimated to come down by 35 %. Kumar (2009) analysed the spatial
differences on the impact of climate variation on Indian agriculture. The study made
use of cross section data and used Ricardian approach for estimating the climate
sensitivity on farm net revenue. The study estimates suggests that impact of change
in climate can result in reduction of net farm revenue by 9 %. The estimates by
Guiteras (2009) suggest that change in climate is has a negative impact on the
combined yields of rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, maize and sugarcane. His study finds
that the yield is likely to reduce by 4.5–9 % during (2010–39) due to impact of
climate change. Study by Kumar (2011) reveals that the changes in weather condition has reduced the growing time of rice and sugarcane crops in UP and
Uttarakhand. While understanding the sustaining sugar productivity in the presence
of water depletion, Shrivastava et al. (2011) suggests that the cane productivity can
only be sustained with appropriate technologies that economize water, by cultivating different varieties and also drought tolerant varieties of cane with relatively
lesser water requirement will be advantageous in long run to sustain the cane
productivity. Moorthy et al. (2012) examined the impact of climate change on five
Indian major crops namely rice, wheat, sorghum, cotton, and sugarcane for a period
of 50 years (1961–2010). This study was closely related to the other two studies
done by Lobell et al. (2011) and Guiteras (2009). The estimates suggest that
temperature and rainfall trends had no significant impact on major crop yields.
Thus, the study concluded by emphasizing the role of error measurement in the
prediction outcomes. While Kumar and Sharma (2014) estimated the climate
change impact on sugarcane productivity using panel data methodology for a time
period of 30 years (1980–2009). The study results suggest that actual rainfall,
average maximum and minimum temperature were significant in determining
sugarcane productivity. Also, the average maximum temperature in summer and in
rainy season had a negative impact on the cane productivity. Though a plethora of
empirical estimates are found in the literature pertaining to climate change and its
impact on the productivity of the food crops in India, the empirical estimates
pertaining to sugarcane is not consistent. This can be due to the employment of
different methodologies, selection of appropriate variables, etc. For example,
Ramulu (1996) did not include climatic variables related to temperature while
estimating the impact of climate change on sugarcane productivity. The other
reasons could be the combined analysis of climate change on different crops, which
could have had different impacts (Krishnamurthy 2012; Sarker et al. 2012). For
example, Guiteras (2009) study combined different crops which are likely to be
impacted differently by climate change. In this regard the objective of this paper is
to understand to what extent is the influence of climatic factors on sugar cane
productivity in Karnataka.
392
A.B. Chandran and K.N. Anushree