Participants including scientists, disaster managers and agricultural specialists are working together to collate and share good practices in agricultural disaster risk management and develop country road maps to deliver the country resilience programme for Caribbean SIDS. The development of a livelihoods resilience programme is in keeping with the need to mainstream disaster risk management in the agriculture sector towards achieving the 2014-2024 Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) objectives.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, CDEMA’s Deputy Executive Director, Elizabeth Riley said, “Disaster risk management must be viewed as the launching pad for engaging sector partners, including the agriculture sector in dialogue on the hazard related consequences of climate change and for undertaking associated adaptation actions”.
Given the region’s vulnerability to climate induced hazards including the ongoing drought, which according to predictions by the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology will continue to impact the region up to May 2016, it is important for the region to monitor and undertake contingency planning and adaptation actions particularly for the agricultural sector.
Riley said the “reality of these threats demands that we boldly step outside of our comfort zones to engage in interactions with varied actors on dynamic issues. With the establishment of the CDM Coordination and Harmonization Council in 2007, FAO willingly stepped forward to lead the charge in the agriculture sector. I wish to take this opportunity to thank FAO for its leadership and our other agricultural sector partners for their commitment over the years.”
For further information, please contact:
Clive Murray
Communication and Education Specialist
CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (CDEMA)
Resilience Way, Lower Estate
St. Michael
BARBADOS
Tel #: (246) 434-4880
Fax #: (246) 271-3660
Email: