Bambara Groundnut for Food Security in the Changing African Climate

Abstract

Global food production must respond to the demands of a growing world population, and to the hazards of climate change. Higher temperatures, unpredictable rainfall and weather patterns, changes in growing seasons, increased occurrences of drought and extreme weather events will exert a greater strain on agriculture. These changes are forecasted to have a high impact in Africa. Warming in Africa should be greater than the global average, with decreasing precipitation leading to higher occurrence of drought in many regions. Climate change will cause shifts in food production and yield loss due to more unpredictable weather patterns. Climate change will also affect food prices and increase malnutrition, especially amongst children. Improving crop productivity and nutritional content is therefore vital.