A Global Scientometric Analysis of Climate-smart Agricultural Innovations Adoption in Drought-prone Areas
Mst Rahima Khatun
Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh and Department of Agricultural Extension, Khamarbari, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Md Ruhul Amin
Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
A K M Kanak Pervez *
Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
Shabrin Jahan Shaili
Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
Md. Bulbul Ahmmed
Department of Agricultural Extension, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh.
Md Mahedi
Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Acute and growing burdens on livelihoods exist as water resources become more stressed and agricultural production becomes less reliable. To meet these challenges, Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations are being positioned as an essential solution to increasing resilience, productivity, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This global scientometric analysis maps the evolution of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) adoption research in drought-prone regions through a systematic examination of 448 Scopus-indexed publications (2016–2025). The field demonstrates robust annual growth (13.72%), peaking at 111 publications in 2024, a surge catalysed by post-Paris Agreement policy mobilisation and escalating climate vulnerabilities. Geographically, research leadership is heavily concentrated in high-risk regions: India dominates (80 publications, 17.9% of total), driven by institutions like Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (27 papers), while Sub-Saharan Africa shows strong collaborative output (Ghana: 17; Kenya: 15). Critically, Latin American drylands and West Asia represent less than 4% of studies, exposing significant spatial knowledge gaps. Thematic analysis reveals three interconnected clusters: (1) climate drivers ("drought" [80 keyword occurrences], "abiotic stress") contextualizing environmental pressures; (2) adaptation strategies anchored by "climate-smart agriculture" but hampered by terminology inconsistencies ("adaptye management"); and (3) socio-agronomic outcomes ("crop yield", "food security", "smallholder" livelihoods). Methodologically, empirical field data dominates yet suffers from compartmentalisation: biophysical trials (e.g., 3.1 t/ha sorghum yield gains in Kenya) rarely integrate socio-economic metrics, while household surveys (e.g., 40% higher farm incomes for CSA adopters in India) overlook environmental variables. Only 12.5% of systematically reviewed studies leveraged geospatial tools like remote sensing (e.g., detection of sustained LST >30°C in Indonesia). Crop-specific research disproportionately focuses on maize (21 occurrences), neglecting drought-resilient staples like sorghum and millet, essential for nutrition security. Collaboration networks are robust (4.44 authors/paper), with Northern institutions enabling multinational partnerships (UK: 82% MCP rate). Persistent gaps include fragmented methodologies, underrepresentation of livestock systems, and short-term trials (<6 years). We recommend (a) integrated mixed-methods approaches (remote sensing + socio-economic panels), (b) geographic diversification to neglected arid zones, (c) ontology standardisation, and (d) crop study expansion beyond maize. Policymakers should prioritise scaling validated CSA bundles, such as integrated soil-water conservation (26–89% yield increases) and drought-tolerant varieties, to strengthen resilience in vulnerable agroecosystems.
Keywords: Climate-smart agriculture, diffusion of innovation theory, climate change adaptation, bibliometric analysis, drought-prone areas