Climate Change and Poultry Production in Africa: A Systematic Scoping Review of Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategies

Abstract

ABSTRACT Climate change poses several challenges to the sustainability of poultry production in Africa, affecting both biological performance and economic viability within different agro-ecological zones. This scoping review synthesises existing literature on climate impacts, adaptation mechanisms, and policy frameworks across four representative African agro-ecological regions. The analysis revealed that climate stress factors such as heat stress, drought, and unpredictable rainfall have measurable impacts on poultry production systems across Africa. For example, in Tanzania, drought and irregular precipitation were linked to a 15–20% decline in the biomass of scavenging feed and a 25% increase in chick mortality rates. In Nigeria, heat stress led to a 15-25% decrease in feed intake and a 20-30% decline in egg production. In South Africa, drought and heatwaves caused a 10-12% increase in poultry mortality rates and a rise in operational costs associated with cooling and water provision. In Egypt, reliance on imported feed made poultry producers vulnerable to market shocks caused by climate change, with feed prices increasing by more than 45%. The negative effects include decreased food security and the livelihoods of farmers, as well as a higher cost of production. Various adaptation strategies have improved the resilience of poultry production systems, although these methods are not very efficient due to various limitations. Synthesis of the literature highlights four primary intervention pathways evaluated across regional studies: localized feed systems, technology-enabled early warning frameworks, renewable energy integration, and alternative protein sourcing. Therefore, further improvements are needed to enhance the resilience of the poultry industry in Africa.