Effect of climate change on the production of Cucurbitaceae species in North African countries

Abstract

Climate change poses a significant threat to crop production and food security in North Africa and around the world. Intense heat, drought, and other climatic changes can significantly impact the yield of certain crops, such as cucurbits (e.g., melons, gourds, and pumpkins). Hence, the need to explore means to mitigate the adverse effect of change in climate on Cucurbits which are sensitive to heat stress and require a sufficient water supply to thrive. Cucurbits are plants mostly grown for their fruit or seeds, often eaten raw or pickled. Hence, providing economic incentives to farmers within North African countries such as Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt. This review aims to discuss the historical and current production trends of Cucurbitaceae species and the effect of climate change on Cucurbits in the northern region of Africa while also highlighting the significant role of Cucurbits as a source of food and nutritional security in the region. A literature search was conducted on electronic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Books and Google Scholar. Results showed that due to climate change, the production of cucurbit crops may decrease by up to 10-15%, leading to reduced food availability and increased prices in some areas. Thus, impacting negatively on household food security. Similarly, the climate change implications for different types of cucurbit crops can vary substantially depending on the unique growing conditions of each country within the region.

Keywords

• Cucurbitaceae species
• North Africa
• Adverse weather
• Food security