Highlighting Climate Temporal Evolution in Kolda Region's Agricultural Watershed

Abstract

In several developing countries, the quest for food sovereignty has sparked considerable interest at the local and regional levels. Food production is heavily dependent on traditional rain-fed agriculture, which is highly sensitive to climatic fluctuations. Understanding climatic cycles in relation to production systems and water resource availability is now the subject of a well-established consensus. This step is essential for any sustainable development project. This study aims to highlight the disruption of the climate through precipitation, temperature, and humidity data from the Kolda station over the period 1960-2014. Our approach is based on a monthly and annual graphical representation of these climatic variables. These variables were chosen because they represent valuable indicators of climate change for both populations and ecosystems. Thus, at the end of the study, the results obtained are consistent and revealing. They have shown that the Kolda region faces climatic challenges, including irregularity, increases, and decreases according to the parameters studied. This situation has led to water scarcity in some areas and increased ecological and social vulnerability. The results obtained provide valuable information to policymakers for developing sustainable watershed management strategies and adapting to climate change. Furthermore, this study serves as a useful resource for future research on the climate resilience of threatened agricultural areas through water resource reassessment and appropriate agricultural planning.