Impacts of Climate Change on Cowpea and Soybean Production in Africa: Challenges and Adaptations

Abstract

Significant variations in rainfall, temperature, and extreme weather patterns have been brought about by climate change, which has a major impact on main legume crops and exacerbated worries about food security throughout sub-Saharan Africa. While cowpea demonstrates some resilience, benefiting from increased atmospheric CO₂ levels in certain contexts, soybean faces more consistent declines in productivity due to rising temperatures and water stress. Smallholder farmers, heavily reliant on rain-fed agriculture, are particularly vulnerable to these changes, with limited access to resources and adaptive capacity. This review examines the multifaceted climate change impacts on cowpea and soybean production in Africa, highlighting challenges, adaptive strategies, and policy implications by exploring various literatures on the subject. The review also highlights sustainable agricultural practices encompassing conservation agriculture, agroforestry, and integrated pest management as key strategies to mitigate adverse effects. Additionally, breeding programs and biotechnological innovations are identified as essential for developing climate-resilient crop varieties with enhanced drought tolerance, pest resistance, and nutritional value. The role of policy frameworks is emphasized, advocating for investments in agricultural research, capacity-building initiatives, and climate information services to support adaptive decision-making. It is worth noting that climate change poses a multifaceted challenge to agriculture in general and requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders to combat its effects on the livelihoods of populations. All stakeholders such as farmers, national governments and international bodies must collaborate to mobilize resources, share knowledge, and align policies to support climate-resilient agriculture in Africa focusing on the adaptive strategies suggested.