Status of cereal production in Africa: insights from abiotic stressors in a changing climate—a short review

Abstract

Globally, cereals are the leading crops cultivated and traded for food, feed, and industrial uses. Africa accounts for 7% of the total cereal production amongst other regions worldwide. Yet, the production of several cereal crops like rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum), millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in Sub-Saharan Africa is certainly threatened by abiotic stressors, especially in the wake of drastic climate change events. Temperature extremities (heat and cold), severe drought conditions, waterlogging (flooding), soil nutrient imbalance and high level of heavy metal toxicity are increasingly affecting the phenology and optimal yielding potential of cereals. Although extensive studies have been conducted in Africa to establish the impact of individual stressors on different cereal crops under varying climate conditions, this review presents an elaborate overview of how these stressors currently affect cereal production in the region while also highlighting the emerging strategies to mitigate their impact under a changing climate.