Climate-smart and risk-resilient adaptation strategies for potato production: a meta-analysis for South Asia

Climate change presents formidable risks to potato production in South Asia, a region pivotal to global food security and regional economic stability. South Asia’s potato production is particularly vulnerable to increasing climatic threats, such as terminal heat, erratic rainfall, and other climate-induced hazards that jeopardize agricultural sustainability. Despite these escalating risks, there is a critical gap in knowledge regarding the effectiveness of climate-smart adaptation strategies tailored for potato cultivation in this context. This study synthesizes data from 95 research papers across four South Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka), assessing the impacts of key climate hazards and the corresponding adaptation strategies to mitigate risks. Using a structured synthesis and random-effect meta-analysis, this research evaluated the effectiveness of various strategies in enhancing potato production. Results indicated substantial yield improvements with mulching (28.30%), planting date adjustments (28.11%), stress-tolerant genotypes (23.22%), and irrigation management (22.86%), demonstrating their transformative potential. However, the high variability observed in strategies like mulching (τ² = 11.60) and organic farming (τ² = 7.23) highlights the necessity for site-specific customization, while consistent outcomes in intercropping, nutrient management, crop rotation, and stress tolerance (τ² = 0.00) confirm their broad applicability. The absence of significant publication bias (Egger p-value > 0.05) and robust sensitivity analyses validate the reliability of these findings. The study underscores the urgent need for localized adaptation strategies, strengthened policy frameworks, and long-term research to build climate-resilient potato production systems and secure sustainable agricultural practices across South Asia amidst growing climate challenges.