The impact of rainfall and temperature trends on coffee yields in Masaka district: case study of 2000-2020
Abstract
The coffee industry, a cornerstone of Uganda's economy, relies on a delicate balance between climatic factors and crop productivity. This study looks into the complex relationship between yearly rainfall totals, temperature (mean maximum and mean minimum), and coffee yields over a period of 21 years in an effort to provide crucial information to coffee growers, decision makers, and the industry at large.
Using a series of linear regression models, the study analyzed the impact of these climatic variables on coffee yields, considering their individual and combined effects. The findings reveal significant associations that underscore the importance of understanding climate dynamics in coffee cultivation.
The analysis demonstrates a robust positive correlation between annual rainfall totals and coffee yields. An increase in rainfall is associated with higher coffee yields, reinforcing the crucial role of water availability in ensuring optimal coffee production. While mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures were considered, the relationship between these temperature variables and coffee yields appears less straightforward. The findings indicate that the impact of mean max temperature on coffee yields is not statistically significant. However, mean min temperature, when considered in a combined impact with rainfall, showed a statistically significant positive correlation with coffee yields. The most comprehensive model, considering both rainfall and temperature, emerges as the best explanatory framework for coffee yield variability. This combined model significantly improves the R-squared value, indicating that these climatic factors together explain a substantial proportion of the observed variability in coffee yields. As a result, this study emphasizes the significance of careful climate management for coffee farming, laying a solid foundation for further investigation, the development of new regulations, and cooperative initiatives aimed at ensuring the continued success of the coffee industry in the face of climate change.