Climate change and agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa countries: Do religion, ethnic and linguistic diversity matter?

The intensification of extreme climatic events, coupled with the contraction of agricultural production and the emergence of sociodemographic factors, particularly religion and ethnic and linguistic diversity, reinforces the need to implement adaptation strategies. This article investigates the effects of climate change on agricultural production through the lens of the moderating role of religion, ethnic and linguistic diversity in a panel of 45 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period 2000-2020. Using a two-way fixed-effects (TWFE) estimator, our results reveal a nonlinear relationship between climate conditions and gross agricultural revenue per hectare. Specifically, we find that the effects of average temperature and precipitation on agricultural revenue are initially beneficial but become adverse beyond certain threshold levels. The moderation analysis further shows that religion, ethnic diversity, and linguistic diversity significantly moderate the relationship between climate change and gross agricultural revenue per hectare in Sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, our results remain robust when using the S-GMM estimator, while showing sensitivity to climate variability, agricultural price volatility, the direct effects of the moderating variables, and the predominant religious affiliation of countries. We highlight the need for integrated agricultural policies that combine climate-smart practices with consideration of socio-cultural determinants, whose adoption can be facilitated through the mobilization of community networks and local leaders.