Climate change poses significant challenges to global agriculture, particularly for smallholder farmers who are most vulnerable to its effects. Unpredictable weather patterns, including droughts, floods, and temperature extremes, threaten crop yields and food security. Plant breeding, a key agricultural science, offers solutions to these challenges by developing crop varieties with enhanced resilience to environmental stress. This review examines modern plant breeding techniques, including marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and CRISPR-based gene editing, and their potential to combat climate change impacts on smallholder farms. The article explores how these technologies can improve traits such as drought tolerance, heat resistance, and disease resilience in crops, thereby increasing their adaptability to climate stressors. Additionally, it highlights the importance of farmer participation in breeding programs, the need for accessible seed systems, and the role of agricultural extension services in ensuring the successful adoption of these innovations. Ultimately, this review underscores the potential of plant breeding to enhance food security and sustainability for smallholder farmers in the face of climate change, emphasizing the importance of integrating scientific advancements with practical, farmer-centered approaches.