Elliott Ronald Dossou-Yovo

Winning the battle against weeds is crucial for sustainable rice ( Oryza sativa L.) production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where weeds remain a leading cause of yield losses and continue to threaten the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers, with farms below 1 ha. This review evaluates the dynamic landscape of weed control strategies by examining weed ecology; the limitations of traditional hand weeding; and the growing risks associated with overreliance on herbicides, including escalating health concerns, environmental impacts, and the rapid rise of herbicide resistance. The central finding advanced in this review is that, despite the proven potential of integrated weed management (IWM) to provide sustainable and resilient weed control, its widespread adoption remains considerably low. Key barriers include weak extension services, low farmer awareness, and insufficient policy support, which collectively prevent timely and effective uptake of diversified weed control strategies. While approaches such as biological control, cover cropping, crop rotation, and precision tools hold promise, they remain underutilized without strong institutional backing. Drawing from case studies across the region, the review argues that IWM could deliver the most resilient and context-appropriate results if embedded within robust advisory systems and supportive incentives. The paper concludes with recommendations to strengthen extension capacity, promote farmer-centered innovation, and align policies to accelerate sustainable, scalable adoption of IWM across SSA.

Rice ( Oryza sativa ) demand in sub‐Saharan Africa is projected to rise by 12 million tonnes between 2021 and 2026. However, climate change poses a significant challenge to achieving rice self‐sufficiency in the region. This study assessed the impact of climate change on rice yield and evaluated management practices to reduce associated yield losses in the derived savannah agroecological zone of West Africa. Field experiments were conducted on 22 farmers' fields across two irrigated schemes in central Cote d'Ivoire. Data on soil properties, weather, management practices, and rice yield was used to calibrate and validate the integrated model combining APSIM and ORYZA 2000 model. Future climate impacts were evaluated using bias‐corrected data from RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 (where RCP is representation concentration pathway) scenarios. The model performed satisfactorily, with R ² values between 0.8 and 1, RMSE ranging from 0 to 5 t ha ⁻¹ , and Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency from 0.99 to 1. Projections indicated rice yield reduction of 82% and 77% by 2070–2100, under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively, compared to the 2019 baseline. Alternative management practices, including manure application at 3 Mg ha ⁻¹ , rice straw mulching at 3 Mg ha ⁻¹ , and nitrogen fertilizer at 180 kg ha ⁻¹ , mitigated yield losses and even increased yield under climate change. These findings suggest that while climate change will substantially reduce irrigated rice yield, implementing improved management practices can enhance rice productivity and support food security in West Africa's derived savannah zone.