Climate smart agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review of the potentials for maize and common beans smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas

Abstract

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an alternative approach to tackle food insecurity under climate change conditions. Its credibility is gaining wide acceptance to double food production to feed the growing population in semi-arid areas of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Various CSA technologies have been identified and reported with successful outcomes, but characterization of CSA technologies by smallholder farmers remains low despite its proven potential. The present study provides detailed overview of CSA technologies for drought tolerant or escape, soil fertility and water management for maize and common beans productivity of smallholder farmers in semi-arid of SSA. This review: (i) synthesized available information on the potential of CSA technologies ii) identified CSA management practices and their contribution to soil fertility and water management iii) identified and discussed the adaptive strategies to climate change, the influences, and limitations of smallholder farmers adoption to CSA technologies. To achieve this study, secondary data from peer-reviewed papers, universities thesis, Science Direct, and the Web of Science database were collected and reviewed using SSA as a case study. About 544 published data between 2002 and 2024 were evaluated and discussed for maize and common beans production potentials. The improved drought-tolerant maize and early-maturity common beans as well as the intercropping, tied ridges, and farm-yard manure were identified as potential CSA technologies widely promoted in SSA. The review elucidated that, CSA technologies can build synergies and increase resource use efficiency to strengthen food sovereignty and climate change adaptation in semi-arid areas of SSA.