The agricultural sector is one of the most vulnerable sectors, in the face of climate change, given its heavy dependence on water, weather, and climate. According to the 2021 FAO report on the impact of disasters and crises on agriculture and food security, the agricultural sector in low- and middle-income countries accounted for 63% of the damages and losses from disasters triggered by natural hazards documented between 2008 and 2018.
With record heat temperatures around the world and changes in rainfall patterns, it is evident that the agricultural sector needs policy frameworks that properly integrate the agricultural sector into the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and development plans. While some nations (such as the Philippines, Myanmar, Jamaica, Serbia, and Guyana) are taking steps toward creating DRR plans specifically for the agricultural sector and integrating them into the national DRR plans, there is still an urgent need for further alignment at the global scale as well.
The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR 2022), held last May, provided a crucial forum for discussing how climate change impacts different sectors. It also offered an opportunity to explore collaboration to break down silos and strengthen plans for disaster risk management and climate adaptation.