Effect of Climate Variability on Finger Millet Productivity: Panel Data Analysis

Finger millet is widely grown all parts of the world and it is consumed by all people. This paper studies the impact of climate variability on yield of finger millet crop in Tamil Nadu using Panel regression analysis. The data on maximum and minimum rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature and yield of finger millet was collected and used for analysis. Panel data model was used to estimate effect of climate variability. The temperature and its square terms shows the significant impact on finger millet yield, it means after the certain level increase in temperature leads to yield loss. The square term of the SWM maximum temperature will increase the yield of finger millet up to a threshold level, beyond which the yield will decrease. Higher temperature during north-east monsoon season would mean lower yield rates. The regression coefficient of interaction term for NEM rainfall and NEM maximum temperature was found to be positive which indicate that the joint effect of rainfall and temperature during the north-east monsoon season on finger millet yield was positive thus contributing for increased productivity. Thus increasing in climatic variables would support the millets up to a certain level and after that it lower the yield of finger millet.