The effect of climate variability on agricultural employment, productivity and poverty among the youth in Tanzania

Tanzania’s economy is based mostly on agriculture, which employs 65% of the country’s workforce and accounts for 26.2% of its gross domestic product (GDP). Due to climate change, farmers are already seeing changes in cropping seasons and rainfall, which present significant challenges for the industry. Because of climate change, farm productivity is declining, which lowers profitability, restricts agricultural opportunities, and lowers morale in the agricultural sector. Young farmers are likely to be particularly affected by increasing climate variability as they are already grappling with limited access to essential resources, such as land, finance, and modern farming technologies. As a result, the majority of youth working in the agricultural sector struggle to maintain sustainable livelihoods, which contributes to rising rural unemployment and increased migration to urban areas.

 This study explores the relationship between climate variability and youth poverty, as well as agricultural productivity and participation. The study uses data from the two most recent waves (2014/15 and 2019/20) of Tanzania’s National Panel Survey (TNPS).

Available at: https://doi.org/10.55158/DEEPCFWP3