Summary
This narrative review synthesises understanding of farming systems in the West African Sudan Savanna, integrating biophysical (climate, soil, water), socioeconomic (demography, institutions, economy) and agronomic dimensions. The authors characterise current cropping and farming systems and their vulnerabilities to climate change, ecological fragility and food insecurity, before proposing targeted adaptation strategies for enhancing system resilience and soil fertility under projected climate variability.
Regional applicability
This review focuses on semi-arid West African farming systems and climate change, with limited direct application to United Kingdom conditions. However, the methodological approach to characterising farming systems holistically—integrating biophysical, social and institutional factors—and the framework for identifying adaptation strategies may inform multi-dimensional assessment of UK farming system resilience, particularly for understanding institutional and socioeconomic barriers to adaptation.
Key measures
Climatic, edaphological and hydrological characteristics; demographic, cultural, organisational and economic institutional features; farming and cropping system typologies and management practices; climate adaptation and soil fertility intervention strategies.
Outcomes reported
The paper characterises current farming and cropping systems in the Sudan Savanna region, examining agroecological, socioeconomic and institutional factors. It proposes adaptation strategies for farming systems to address climate change variability and soil fertility challenges.
Topic tags
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