Impact of Climate Change on Vegetable Production: Abiotic and Biotic Stresses, Adaptation and Management Strategies

Abstract

Vegetables form a vital component of global food and nutritional security and are particularly vulnerable to climatic fluctuations due to their high perishability and sensitivity to environmental stresses. In India, where vegetables contribute nearly 60% of horticultural production, the projected impacts of climate change pose a significant threat to yield stability, quality and profitability of vegetable crops. Rising temperature, erratic rainfall, drought, flooding, salinity and increasing concentrations of CO₂ and ozone impose multiple stresses on vegetable crops, leading to physiological disorders, reduced productivity and altered nutritional quality. Moreover, new disease complexes, pest outbreaks and declining pollinator populations further exacerbate the challenges. Recent research indicates that adoption of climate-resilient varieties, conservation agriculture, protected cultivation, organic amendments, biofertilizers, bio stimulants and efficient irrigation systems would help in reducing vulnerabilities. This review synthesizes findings from Indian and global studies, highlighting crop-specific impacts on climate change on major vegetable crops, seed production challenges, integrated disease and pest management and emerging relevant postharvest technologies. Strategies such as crop modelling, biotechnological interventions and ecosystem-based practices are emphasized to ensure resilience. The paper concludes with future prospects for climate-smart vegetable production systems.