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Irrigation as adaptation strategy to climate change—a biophysical and economic appraisal for Swiss maize production

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Abstract

The impact of climate change on Swiss maize production is assessed using an approach that integrates a biophysical and an economic model. Simple adaptation options such as shifts in sowing dates and adjustments of production intensity are considered. In addition, irrigation is evaluated as an adaptation strategy. It shows that the impact of climate change on yield levels is small but yield variability increases in rainfed production. Even though the adoption of irrigation leads to higher and less variable maize yields in the future, economic benefits of this adoption decision are expected to be rather small. Thus, no shift from the currently used rainfed system to irrigated production is expected in the future. Moreover, we find that changes in institutional and market conditions rather than changes in climatic conditions will influence the development of the Swiss maize production and the adoption of irrigation in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agri-food and Agri-environmental Economics Group ETH, Sonneggstrasse 33, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland

    Robert Finger

  2. Swiss College of Agriculture SHL, Laenggasse 85, 3052, Zollikofen, Switzerland

    Werner Hediger

  3. Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station ART, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zürich, Switzerland

    Stéphanie Schmid

Authors
  1. Robert Finger
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  2. Werner Hediger
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  3. Stéphanie Schmid
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Correspondence to Robert Finger.

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Finger, R., Hediger, W. & Schmid, S. Irrigation as adaptation strategy to climate change—a biophysical and economic appraisal for Swiss maize production. Climatic Change 105, 509–528 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9931-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9931-5

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