Impact of Extreme Weather and Climate Events on Farmers: A review

Abstract

This paper discusses extreme weather and climate events in two dimensions----first, extremes of atmospheric weather and climate factors (temperature, precipitation, and wind); Second, it impacts the natural physical environment (droughts, floods) on farms. In the systematic review, 162 papers from the years January 2000 to December 2023 were included. Africa and Asia had the most studies conducted, respectively. There has been a notable rise in the frequency of heavy precipitation events globally and more prolonged and intense droughts in West Africa. Many farmers reported that these changes are significant enough to stress crop plants, resulting in decreased growth and production, especially in highly weather-sensitive crops. Studies in Africa concluded that large reservoirs are the only reliable water source in drought. A negligible number of studies in Asia and Africa identified that the local population of farmers was unaware of institutional efforts to address waterlogging.