Agricultural Risk Management

This Risk Assessment Study (RAS) provides a comprehensive mapping and assessment of agricultural risks in Uganda through a holistic approach. The report provides stakeholders with data and information on priority risks for Ugandan agriculture in order to develop appropriate policy solutions aimed at improving agricultural risk management (ARM) in the country. The guiding policy framework for this work is the recently developed Agricultural Sector Strategy Paper 2014/15-19/20 (ASSP).

Niger, owing to its climatic, institutional, livelihood, economic, and environmental context, is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world. Poverty is pervasive in Niger and it ranks low on almost all the human development indicators. Agriculture is the most important sector of Niger’s economy and accounts for over 40 percent of national gross domestic product (GDP) and is the principal source of livelihood for over 80 percent of the country’s population.

Despite uneven performance, Senegal’s agricultural sector remains vital to the national economy. It accounts for roughly one-sixth of gross domestic product (GDP) and continues to be a major source of employment. Nearly three in five Senegalese (58 percent) live in rural areas and depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. Expanding the sector and achieving food self-sufficiency is one of the core pillars of the country’s economic development strategy, plan Senegal emergent.

This note examines agricultural risk in Mozambique and its impacts on crop production between 1992 and 2015. It summarizes the findings of an agricultural risk and solutions assessment carried out in 2013 and 2014 to prioritize risks based on their frequency and severity of impact, and to identify any areas of Mozambique’s existing agricultural risk management framework that can be improved. These findings led to a number of practical recommendations that can usefully inform strategic planning and policy formulation relating to risk in the country. 

Climate change is becoming a source of significant additional risks for agriculture and food systems. Climate projections suggest that impacts will include shifting average growing conditions, increase climate and weather variability, and more uncertainty in predicting tomorrow’s climate and weather conditions. Agricultural risk management (ARM) is ideally placed to support stakeholders in building resilience to these increased risks in short and medium term.

Volatility in agriculture is expected to increase – production volatility, mostly driven by climate change as well as price volatility, due to higher production volatility, a tight supply/demand balance, volatile energy prices, and other factors. The responsibility to manage risks is increasingly in farmers’ hands. The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy is undergoing major reform towards greater market orientation. Tighter budgets as well as environmental and trade consider- ations have led to the reduction of market interventions.

Document: 

Risk management in agriculture Towards market solutions in the EU.pdf