When climate disasters strike, farmers are among the first to feel the consequences. This was true before the novel coronavirus and it’s certainly true now. The climate crisis compounded by the global health crisis leaves the most vulnerable even more at risk. Around 74% of natural disasters between 2001 and…
At present, South Asia is among the sub-regions where the spread of COVID-19 transmission is peaking. The intersection of the pandemic with the climate emergencies has created challenges that sub-region has not dealt with before and could magnify the negative impacts in some countries. Implementation of response strategies and pre-emptive…
Farmers who took part in a high-tech flood insurance scheme in Bihar, India, shared a total payout of INR 7.52 lakhs (USD $10,500) following the 2019 monsoon. The season, which runs from June to September, brought devastating floods to large parts of India, Bangladesh and Nepal. In Bihar, 13 districts…
An innovative Index Based Flood Insurance to assist the insurers with claim settlement. Under the REE-CALL program, smallholders took out capital loans from microfinance companies. Oxfam Bangladesh wanted to provide insurance so that farmers would be financially secure even if flooding damaged their crops. Therefore, it joined forces with the International Water…
As environmental and climate unpredictability intensifies across the planet, agriculture is facing new and complex challenges – but also potentially game-changing technological solutions. And alongside these sweeping changes, agriculture is adjusting to new social realities, particularly changes to the roles of women. Women are playing increasingly active, decision-making roles in…
More than 200 farming households have enrolled in an Index Based Flood Insurance (IBFI) product in Bihar, India. IBFI, which use satellite technology and modelling, was developed with the help of researchers from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) with WLE and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). Payment to…
It’s a familiar sight from developing nations on our TV screens. Stranded families survey submerged crops and livestock in dismay, as swollen rivers claim their livelihoods. Once hit by such a devastating event, smallholder farmers have little option but to use their savings – or more likely, to seek credit…
Press Release: Almost 75 Crore people in South Asia affected by climate hazards in last decade New report underlines vulnerability of agriculture to climate hazards Patna, (June 7, 2017) – Almost 750 million (75 Crore) people in South Asia were affected by a combination of climate hazards in the decade…
Every year, millions of Indian farmers have their crops damaged by floods. Until recently there were very few ways that poor smallholders could obtain insurance against this calamity. Now, using satellite remote sensing and computer modeling to measure flood inundation, a new scheme can help provide protection against crop damage…
Jointly organized by IWMI and Institute of Water Modeling (IWM), the project inception meeting took place in Dhaka on the 4th of November 2015. The IBFI project is being funded by CCAFS and MAFF (Japan) will be undertaken in Sirajganj and Gaibandha districts in Bangladesh. The meeting was attended by…