Resource information
In countries such as Georgia, the risks
of climate change for the agricultural sector are a
particularly immediate and important problem because the
majority of the rural population depends either directly or
indirectly on agriculture for their livelihoods. The most
effective plans for adapting the sector to climate change
will involve both human capital and physical capital
enhancements; however, many of these investments can also
enhance agricultural productivity right now, under current
climate conditions. Recommendations, such as improving the
accessibility to farmers of agriculturally relevant weather
forecasts, will yield benefits as soon as they are
implemented and provide a means for farmers to autonomously
adapt their practices as climate changes. In response to
these challenges, the World Bank and the Government of
Georgia embarked on a joint study to identify and prioritize
options for climate change adaptation of the agricultural
sector, with explicit consideration of greenhouse gas
emission reduction potential of these options. The study was
conducted in three stages: awareness raising; quantitative
and qualitative analysis; and finalization of the analysis
and menu of adaptation options. This report provides a menu
of options for climate change adaptation in the agricultural
and water resources sectors, along with specific recommended
actions that are tailored to distinct agricultural regions
within Georgia. This report provides a summary of the
methods, data, results, and recommendations for each of
these activities, which were reviewed by local counterparts
at the October 8, 2012, national dissemination and consensus
building conference.
