Climate change impacts on tuber crops: vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies

Abstract

Climate change poses significant challenges to root and tuber crops, requiring robust adaptation strategies to mitigate vulnerabilities. This review examines the impacts of climate change on root and tuber crops, including rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, and changes in pest and disease dynamics. These changes significantly affect root and tuber crop production, leading to lower yields, compromised quality, increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, and limited access to water resources. Adaptation strategies encompass various approaches, such as agronomic practices, crop diversification, improved water management, breeding for climate resilience, and agroecological methods. However, addressing knowledge gaps and research needs is crucial for better-understanding climate change impacts and developing effective adaptation strategies for root and tuber crops. Future research should prioritize resilient cultivar identification, enhanced cropping systems, improved pest and disease management, and exploring socio-economic dimensions of adaptation. This review emphasizes the urgent need to address climate change impacts on tropical root and tuber crops. It highlights the critical role of adaptive measures in ensuring long-term sustainability and food security in a changing climate.