Along with highlighting the role of disasters in disrupting food production, the report identifies digital transformation as a game-changer for agricultural disaster risk reduction.
Key Highlights of the Report
- Financial Loss: Disasters have inflicted ~USD 3.26 trillion in agricultural losses over 33 years (1991–2023), with cereal crops bearing the heaviest burden.
- Asia accounts for largest share of losses amounting 47% owing to high scale of agricultural production and its high exposure to floods, storms, etc.
- Disruption in Nutritional Requirements: Disasters correspond to a reduced availability of 320 kcal per person per day globally.
- Livelihood Impact: Marine heatwaves caused $6.6 billion losses between 1985 and 2022, affecting 15% of global fisheries, impacting the dependent populations.
Key Role of Technology in Agriculture
- Resilience of Agrifood System: Data platforms bridge infrastructure gaps allowing for timely and at-scale deployment of risk transfer mechanism.
- Shift from a reactive response to proactive risk reduction: Improved access to real-time and actionable intelligence. E.g., Early warning systems, like Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS), etc.
- Economic Benefits: E.g., Agrometeorological advisory services benefitted farmers in India with reduced input costs by USD 29.65 per hectare for wheat.
India’s Adoption of Technology in Agriculture
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