Research Outline
I had an opportunity to join the LEG4DEV research team, which led me to research cowpeas in Zambia. LEG4DEV is a research project that is under the Ryan Institute, University of Galway, and it focuses on scaling up legumes in southern and eastern Africa.
Climate change is a major threat to food security in sub-Saharan Africa. The IPCC reports that Southern Africa is among the climate change hot spots in the region. Cowpea is one of the staple crops in the region, but its production is facing several challenges due to climate change. Therefore, identifying and mapping climate smart cowpea varieties for future climate scenarios using climate modelling and climate analogue mapping can contribute to the reduction of food insecurity and recommend good practices of cowpea management in future climates for Zambia.
To achieve our objective of the study we used Decision Support Systems for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) to simulate crop growth and production under different climate scenarios. we also used future climate scenarios and climate analogue mapping to map the growing areas of cowpeas. we used five cowpea varieties commonly grown in Zambia.
This research improved my skills in analysis, and I acquired new skills in programs such as DSSAT and QGIS. This research gave me an opportunity to learn these new programs and has enhanced my knowledge of skills which was my primary objective when I decided to undertake this master’s program. Most importantly I have learned new skills which I will use in my future career pathways.
Accessing cowpea production in future climates is cardinal in informing the farming community and stakeholders to prepare adequately. Future climate scenarios can be predicted and therefore it makes it possible to simulate crop phenology and productivity for future climatic conditions. To ensure future food security it is important that studies like this are undertaken.
