Abstract

In Sahel, Food production, particularly Pearl millet is vulnerable to climatic variability and extreme events. The aim of this study is to evaluate pearl millet yield in a context of agro-meteorological factors changing. The approach was based on an interannual analysis of rainfall, temperature and seasonal agroclimatic parameters. The results showed that the temperature series are not homogeneous, due to the significant changes in averages observed between 1981 and 2023, with variations ranging from 0.4 °C to 0.8 °C for maximum temperatures. The findings also showed that the earliest date of the start of rains is May 13 in the extreme south of Gaya which is more humid and the latest date of rains is June 20 in northern Tillaberi more dry area. The correlation observed between the late end of the season and its length highlights the need to integrate these dynamics into agricultural planning for better productivity.

Keywords:Agrometeorological parameters; Climate change; Variability; Pearl millet yield; Niger river regions; Sahel