3 Methodology
3.1 Data Description
The empirical data estimation of the study includes data from 1966 to 2002.
Climatic and non-climatic variables from 16 districts of Karnataka, viz., Bangalore,
Belgaum, Bellary, Bidar, Bijapur, Chikmanglur, Chitradurga, Dharwad, Gulbarga,
Hassan, Kolar, Mandya, Mysore, Raichur, Shimoga and Tumkur. These districts
compose more than 80 % of the area in six selected agro-climatic regions, viz.,
Central Dry Zone, North Eastern Transition Zone, Northern Dry Zone, Eastern Dry
Zone, Southern Dry Zone and Southern Transition Zone of Karnataka. Such a
selection provides us better insights into the climatic impacts in these regions.
Climatic variables include season-wise average maximum temperatures (degree
Celsius), average minimum temperatures and average annual rainfall (millimetres)
whereas non-climatic variables considered includes the annual yield of sugarcane
(of “raw sugar” (gur), in tonnes/ha), total annual fertilizer consumption (the total of
nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizers used, in tonnes) and total annual sugarcane area under irrigation (in 000 ha). The climatic variables were divided into four
different seasons—Summer, Winter, Monsoon and Autumn, according to the
classifications made by Indian Meteorological Department. Summer includes the
months from April to June; Monsoon season includes July to September; Autumn
includes October and November and Winter season composes of December to
March. These variables are identified in literature as to have substantial impact on
yield of agricultural crops and especially on sugarcane (Deressa et al. 2005;
Gbetibouo and Hassan 2005; Benhin 2006).
Data for all variables for the districts formed after 1966 have been given back to
their parent district and removed from the database. There were 11 districts formed
in Karnataka during this period and the data of these districts were traced back to
the original districts that they belonged during 1966. A strongly balanced panel data
of 592 observations (16 districts for a period of 37 years) was considered.
A descriptive analysis of the data is given in Table 1.
3.2 Data Sources
1. Agricultural Data: The yield of sugarcane production were taken from
Estimates of Area, Production and Yield of Principal Crops in Karnataka
1966/67–1989/90, Fully Revised Estimates of Principal Crops in Karnataka,
1990/91–1998/99, and Karnataka at a Glance, 1997/98–2007/08 published by
Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Karnataka.
2. Climatic Variables: The data for the rainfall was given by Report on Rainfall in
Karnataka State of different years, by Directorate of Economics & Statistics,
Govt. of Karnataka. The average maximum and minimum temperatures were
collected from India Water-portal.
Climate Change and Sugarcane Productivity in Karnataka
393
3.1 Data Description
The empirical data estimation of the study includes data from 1966 to 2002.
Climatic and non-climatic variables from 16 districts of Karnataka, viz., Bangalore,
Belgaum, Bellary, Bidar, Bijapur, Chikmanglur, Chitradurga, Dharwad, Gulbarga,
Hassan, Kolar, Mandya, Mysore, Raichur, Shimoga and Tumkur. These districts
compose more than 80 % of the area in six selected agro-climatic regions, viz.,
Central Dry Zone, North Eastern Transition Zone, Northern Dry Zone, Eastern Dry
Zone, Southern Dry Zone and Southern Transition Zone of Karnataka. Such a
selection provides us better insights into the climatic impacts in these regions.
Climatic variables include season-wise average maximum temperatures (degree
Celsius), average minimum temperatures and average annual rainfall (millimetres)
whereas non-climatic variables considered includes the annual yield of sugarcane
(of “raw sugar” (gur), in tonnes/ha), total annual fertilizer consumption (the total of
nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizers used, in tonnes) and total annual sugarcane area under irrigation (in 000 ha). The climatic variables were divided into four
different seasons—Summer, Winter, Monsoon and Autumn, according to the
classifications made by Indian Meteorological Department. Summer includes the
months from April to June; Monsoon season includes July to September; Autumn
includes October and November and Winter season composes of December to
March. These variables are identified in literature as to have substantial impact on
yield of agricultural crops and especially on sugarcane (Deressa et al. 2005;
Gbetibouo and Hassan 2005; Benhin 2006).
Data for all variables for the districts formed after 1966 have been given back to
their parent district and removed from the database. There were 11 districts formed
in Karnataka during this period and the data of these districts were traced back to
the original districts that they belonged during 1966. A strongly balanced panel data
of 592 observations (16 districts for a period of 37 years) was considered.
A descriptive analysis of the data is given in Table 1.
3.2 Data Sources
1. Agricultural Data: The yield of sugarcane production were taken from
Estimates of Area, Production and Yield of Principal Crops in Karnataka
1966/67–1989/90, Fully Revised Estimates of Principal Crops in Karnataka,
1990/91–1998/99, and Karnataka at a Glance, 1997/98–2007/08 published by
Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Karnataka.
2. Climatic Variables: The data for the rainfall was given by Report on Rainfall in
Karnataka State of different years, by Directorate of Economics & Statistics,
Govt. of Karnataka. The average maximum and minimum temperatures were
collected from India Water-portal.
Climate Change and Sugarcane Productivity in Karnataka
393