Harare — Parts of Southern Africa are expected to record a drop in crop yields of between 10 and 20 percent by 2020 while a five percent decrease in rainfall is anticipated owing to the effects of climate change, a new study commissioned by Sadc has revealed.

According to the Southern Africa Environment Outlook, with increasing atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and resultant climate change, summer rainfall is expected to decrease over sub-tropical regions of Southern Africa and increase over tropical regions.

"The Southern Africa Environment Outlook projects crop yields to drop by as much as 10 to 20 percent in some parts of Southern Africa as the region becomes more arid and predicts the spread of anopheles female mosquito to parts of Namibia and South Africa, where it has not been found before.

"The anticipated five percent decrease in rainfall due to climate change will affect people and all forms of wildlife, including plants and animals," reads the press statement.

As the effects of climate change bite more -- the study forecasts an increase in violent cyclones to hit coastal states, especially in Mozambique.