IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SOWING DATE OF RAINFED CEREALS OF ERITREA

This paper investigates the possible sowing dates of rainfed cereals in semi-arid midlands of Eritrea under the context of climate change. The interaction between effective precipitation and potential evapotranspiration was used as guidance to fix sowing date of rainfed crops in order to skip inter-seasonal drought due to climate change under the worst climate emission scenarios (SSP5-8.5). Thus, for all specific time periods (1995-2014, 2040-2059, 2080-2099 and 1990-2100), sowing date of rainfed cereals is found mandatory to be adjusted between 25th June and 5th July depending on available soil moisture and prevailing meteorological conditions.