Climate change impacts on vegetable production: a comprehensive global and Indian review

Vegetable production systems are highly vulnerable to climate change because of their narrow physiological tolerance, short phenological cycles, and sensitivity to thermal and hydrological stress. This review synthesizes global and Indian evidence on the impacts of elevated atmospheric CO₂, rising temperatures, altered precipitation, and extreme weather events on vegetable productivity, physiology, and nutritional quality. Elevated CO₂ can enhance photosynthesis and biomass accumulation in C₃ vegetables and tuber crops; however, these benefits are often offset by heat stress, water limitations, and increased pest and disease incidence. Moreover, CO₂-induced yield gains are frequently associated with nutrient dilution, reducing protein and essential micronutrient concentrations and posing risks to food and nutritional security. In India, climate variability—particularly heatwaves, monsoon irregularities, and unseasonal rainfall—has emerged as a major driver of production instability in key vegetables such as tomato, onion, and potato. These climate shocks rapidly transmit through supply chains, leading to market volatility, price inflation, and heightened livelihood vulnerability among smallholder farmers. The review evaluates adaptation strategies, including climate-resilient breeding, protected cultivation, precision agriculture, and climate-smart agronomic practices supported by national policies. Overall, the study emphasizes integrated, region-specific, and nutrition-sensitive adaptation pathways to sustain vegetable production under future climate change scenarios.