Crop weather and climate vulnerability profiles

Last updated:

13 June 2017

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Smallholder farming systems in the tropics and sub-tropics need to adapt to the consequences of climate change.

Coconut plantations in Zambezia province have been decimated in recent years by Lethal Yellow Disease. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Most farming systems have traditionally evolved and adapted to a changing climate by shifting to different crops, agricultural production systems, etc. However, the rapid climate shifts expected to happen over the next years as a result of climate change require immediate agricultural adaptation actions to be put in place. One of these actions relates to having crop temperature and water requirement profiles. This can help reduce the exposure of smallholder farmers to weather and climate-related shocks. This guide provides a set of diagrams on temperature needs, and water requirements for a range of common tropical smallholder crops through their respective developmental stages.