Trends and impacts of climate change on crop production in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Understanding past climate trends and their impacts in the Sahel region is fundamental for climate change (CC) adaptation and mitigation. This study analyses climate trends from 1961 to 2020 in three climatic zones in Burkina Faso and the impacts of CC on five major crops production. Long time series of daily rainfall and temperature data from National Meteorology Agency for the period 1961 to 2020 has been compiled. Crop production data (1984–2020) were retrieved from the agriculture department. Climate temporal variations in each climatic zone were analyzed using extreme climate indices and principal component analysis. Linear regression was used to assess climate impacts on crop production. The results showed a high rainfall variability and changes in temperature extremes in the three zones. The climate window, 1991–2020, was hotter than 1961–1990, while the last decade (2011–2020) was the wettest. Most climate indices (67%) showed significant correlations with crop yields. Dry spells, cool days, cold nights, average daily wet days and rainfall intensity showed positive and negative effects on maize, cowpea, millet and sorghum yields. This study highlights the importance of climate-smart policy promoting drought-resistant and short-duration varieties in addressing the adverse effects of CC on crop production. HIGHLIGHTS The warm tails of the daily temperature distributions are changing faster than the cold tails witnessing a warming climate in Burkina Faso.; Recent decade was wetter across the Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian zones, supporting rain resumption and the Sahel greening hypothesis.; The major crops were differently affected by climate extremes and were more sensitive to these extremes than the average climate conditions.;

Keywords

• climate change
• climate extreme
• food security
• west african sahel