Credits: N. Palmer (CIAT)

by Olive Thiong’o

“What is visible on the ground is that farmers are already adapted somewhat. But we need them to remain robust, even when challenges hit them,” stressed Arame Tall, researcher with the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). Arame was speaking at the round table session Dialogue on Scaling Up Risk Management for Food Security and Agriculture held during Agriculture, Landscapes and Livelihoods Day (ALL5).

What emerged from the discussions is that when it comes to climate risk management index-based insurance is no silver bullet, in spite of its popularity. But instead risk management requires a combination of approaches. Integration of risk management with social protection; setting up regional or multi-country risk pools where possible; distributing risks and rewards across the value chain; and using a participatory dialogue process to include all actors, are other plausible options to upscale risk management.

Read the full story: Climate insurance only part of the risk-reduction puzzle – CCAFS blog

Olive Thiong’o is a communications officer with the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) in East Africa. She reported live from Agriculture, Landscapes and Livelihoods Day 5 on 3 December in Doha, Qatar.