Agriculture is among the most risk-prone
sectors in the economies of Central Asia. Production shocks
from weather, pests and diseases and adverse movements in
agricultural product and input prices not only impact
farmers and agri-business firms, but can also strain
government finances. Some of these risks are small and
localized and can be managed by producers. Others are the
result of more severe, exogenous shocks outside agriculture

The report aims to help improve the productivity and resilience of the current food system, and to make agriculture part of the solution to climate change. It presents compelling evidence and new tools for policymakers, serving as a guide to better address the impacts of a warming climate on agriculture and food production. This report argues that climate-smart agriculture is central to efforts to end extreme poverty by 2030 and boost shared prosperity.

This report is comprised of two volumes:
(i) volume one: risk assessment; and (ii) volume two: risk
management strategy. Volume one continues with chapter one,
which characterizes the recent performance of the
agriculture sector, including agro-climatic and market
conditions. It also identifies the productive systems used
for this analysis. Chapter two describes the main risks in
the agricultural sector, capturing market, production, and

The present study is part of an effort
by the World Bank and the State of Bahia to assess
agriculture sector risks as a contribution to the strategic
economic development and poverty reduction agenda of the
state government. It is composed of two phases: an
agricultural sector risk identification and prioritization
(volume one) and a risk management strategy and action plan
(volume two). The study provides practical elements for the

Biochar is the carbon-rich organic
matter that remains after heating biomass under the
minimization of oxygen during a process called pyrolysis.
There are a number of reasons why biochar systems may be
particularly relevant in developing-country contexts. This
report offers a review of what is known about opportunities
and risks of biochar systems. Its aim is to provide a
state-of-the-art overview of current knowledge regarding

This report presents the water and
climate adaptation plan (WATCAP) developed for the Sava
river basin (SRB) as result of a study undertaken by the
World Bank. The WATCAP is intended to help to bridge the gap
between the climate change predictions for the SRB and the
decision makers in current and planned water management
investment projects that will be affected by changing
climate trends. The purpose of the report is to: (i) assist

The vulnerability of the agricultural
sector to both climate change and variability is well
established in the literature. The general consensus is that
changes in temperature and precipitation will result in
changes in land and water regimes that will subsequently
affect agricultural productivity. Research has also shown
that specifically in tropical regions, with many of the
poorest countries, impacts on agricultural productivity are

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
(MEA), The Economics of Ecosystems & Biodiversity study
(TEEB) and the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) provide a comprehensive and
useful framework to understand human dependence on ecosystem
services and how best to protect these services in
perpetuity. In these three authoritative studies, payment
for ecosystem services (PES) is listed as one of the

Bhutan has recently made significant
progress in sustaining economic growth and reducing poverty.
In 2012, average per capita household income was somewhat
under USD 2,400/year (Living Standards Measurement Surveys
2012). Growth has averaged around 9 percent per annum over
the past decade and is expected to be on the order of 8
percent per annum over the next five years. According to the
2012 Bhutan Poverty Analysis, 12 percent of the population

Bhutan has recently made significant
progress in sustaining economic growth and reducing poverty.
Bhutan also has valuable deposits of primary materials
including dolomite, lime stone, gypsum, quartzite, stone,
and marble, which are useful for fabrication of other
materials. Thus, a significant part of Bhutan's current
and prospective economic gains come from use of natural
resources called, green sectors. The basic message in this

This discussion paper summarizes
observed and projected trends in extreme weather events,
present-day climate variability, and future climate change
and their impacts on China's different regions.
Findings are presented from China's national assessment
report on climate change (2007) and second national
assessment report on climate change (2011) as well as other
studies by Chinese and international experts. In addition to

This paper documents a significant
impact of climate variation on urbanization in Sub-Saharan
Africa, primarily in more arid countries. By lowering farm
incomes, reduced moisture availability encourages migration
to nearby cities, while wetter conditions slow migration.
The paper also provides evidence for rural-urban income
links. In countries with a larger industrial base, reduced
moisture shrinks the agricultural sector and raises total