disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management (DRR/DRM) strategies to address the risks of extreme events. A change in
the approach to disaster risk reduction is required, in order to prioritize the reduction and
proactive management of risks rather than reacting to events. Field-based evidence shows
that DRR is cost-effective: for every USD1 spent on DRR, USD2–4 are returned in terms of
avoided or reduced disaster impacts.
Build resilience of agricultural systems Agricultural systems can be made more resilient, by implementing measures that are very
system- and local-specific. Individual farmers, forest dwellers, fisherfolk and those along the
supply chain will need to adopt a suite of measures, the details of which will be contingent on
individual circumstances. Broad adaptation strategies can be identified.
Increasing the efficiency of scarce resource use in productive systems , particularly water,
is an important aspect of building resilient livelihoods. Climate change is altering rainfall and
water availability patterns, making capacity to deal with water scarcity (or overabundance)
essential to maintaining productivity levels. Adaptation measures can include water harvesting
and storage, access to irrigation, improved irrigation technologies, as well as agronomic
practices that enhance soil water retention such as minimum tillage, and increase in soil carbon
and organic matter, among others.
Adaptation measures for crops can include the use of adapted varieties or breeds, with
different environmental optima and/or broader environmental tolerances, including currently
neglected crops, also considering that increased diversification of varieties or crops is a way to
hedge against risk of individual crop failure. Adaptive changes in crop management – especially
planting dates, cultivar choice and sometimes increased irrigation – have been studied to
varying extents and are generally estimated to have the potential to increase yields by about
7–15 percent on average, though these results depend strongly on the region and crop being
considered. Changes in post-harvest practices, for example the extent to which grain may
require drying and how products are stored after harvest.