Increase (minimum temperature in JulyAugust) Increase (maximum temperature in JulyAugust) Decrease (minimum temperature in SeptemberOctober) Decrease (maximum temperature in SeptemberOctober) Decrease (min and max temperatures in SeptemberOctober) Increase/Decr ease in July – August Increase yield Decrease yield Increase yield Decrease yield Increase But in general an increase in temperature by as small as 0.3C is associated with a decline in yield, though there may be increase in yield if temperature increase by 1.5C and 3.0C, demand for irrigation water would be induced (evapotranspiration Mahmood, et al., 2012 Decrease yield Adaptation to climate change A survey of the literature showed that oft-cited short-term adaptation strategies include “changes in planting dates and cultivars; changes in external input such as irrigation; techniques in order to conserve soil water” (Alexandrov, et al. (2002), p.383). For example, for Austria, Alexandrov, et al. (2002) suggested that spring crops be sown earlier “in order to reduce yield loss or to further increase the projected gain resulting from an increase in temperature” (p.384). Conde, et.al (1997) assessed the potential increase in production costs as a result of the implementation of adaptive measures to reduce climate change impacts. They suggested fertilization as a measure for adapting to climate change in Mexico. However, they noted the importance of subsidies from governments to be able to continue both maize production and fund the use of fertilizers. However they also noted that “under a non-subsidy policy, the application of this adaptive measure would become unfeasible due to the high production costs involved, since profits would be reduced and losses could even occur” (p.21). Burke and Lobell (2010), on the other hand, differentiated between ex-ante and ex-post measure. While exante measures refers to the action taken in “anticipation of a given climate realization” which often center around diversification of crops among others, ex-post measures are responses “undertaken after the event is realized” which include “drawing down cash reserves or stores of grain, borrowing from formal or informal credit markets or family, selling assets such as livestock, or migrating elsewhere in search for work in non-affected regions” (p.135). However, Burke and Lobell (2010) argued that not all strategies for adaptation are available to farmers. They noted that “existence of social safety nets and functioning financial CBMS-FAO | 17