Climate change, crop yield, and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Climate change poses a significant threat to agriculture and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region already vulnerable due to socio-economic challenges and dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Rising temperatures alter precipitation patterns, droughts, and floods impact agricultural productivity, exacerbating food insecurity over time. This study examines how temperature, precipitation, droughts, and floods impact crop yields through regional variations in SSA climates, climate-resilient agricultural practices, and policy implications for climate adaptation and mitigation. The regional variations in climate effects cuts across SSA identified the Sahel and the Horn of Africa as particularly vulnerable to food availability, access, utilization, and stability, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations (women, children, and poor households) facing heightened risks due to their low level of adaptation capacity and reliance on agriculture for livelihoods thus leading to malnutrition, environmental and social insecurity. Climate-resilient agricultural practices such as smart agriculture, agroforestry, water management, and irrigation management can help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change in addition to agricultural insurance programs, investments in resilient infrastructure and research prioritization. There is a call for action to develop and integrate climate adaptation into agricultural policies that safeguard crop yield, promote sustainable food systems to address the long-term impact of climate change, and ensure food security in SSA, emphasizing regional collaboration and support for vulnerable populations.