Assessing the Climate Change Impacts on Maize Production in the Slovak Republic and Their Relevance to Sustainability: A Case Study

Abstract

Climate change poses a significant challenge to the agricultural sector, with far-reaching implications on a global scale. As the agriculture sector plays a critical role in the economy of the Slovak Republic, it is crucial to understand the impacts of climate change and, with it, the vulnerabilities that agricultural practices face. Agricultural production and food sustainability are intricately linked to various factors, including population growth and the effects of climate change. This paper focuses on analyzing the production of maize in Slovakia and identifying the factors driving its cultivation. We aim to assess how climate factors influence maize yields across different temperature and precipitation levels through comprehensive data analysis and statistical methods. By utilizing the stochastic production function proposed by Just and Pope (1979) for 1996 to 2022 and estimating model parameters using GRETL software, we aim to provide insights into the relationship between climate change and maize production. Furthermore, we explore the implications of our findings for the sustainability of agricultural practices in Slovakia. Our analysis reveals that the impact of temperature and precipitation on maize yield varies by month and exhibits a nonlinear nature, with climate changes generally exerting a negative influence. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing sustainable agricultural strategies that can mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on maize production and ensure long-term food security.