Overview
Agricultural production is inextricably tied to climate, making agriculture one of the most climate-sensitive of all economic sectors. In countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, the risks of climate change for the agriculture 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. Climate change disproportionately affects the rural poor because of their greater dependence on agriculture, their relatively lower ability to adapt, and the high share of income they spend on food. Climate change effects could therefore undermine progress that has been made in poverty reduction and adversely impact food security and economic growth in vulnerable rural areas. International efforts to limit greenhouse gases (GHGs) and to mitigate climate change are urgently needed to prevent the adverse effects of temperature increases, changes in precipitation, and the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events. At the same time, climate change can also create economic opportunities, particularly in the agriculture sector. Increased temperatures can lengthen growing seasons, higher carbon dioxide concentrations can enhance plant growth, and in some areas rainfall and the availability of water resources can increase as a result of climate change. If countries are to effectively manage the risks of climate change—and take advantage of potential opportunities—it is necessary to develop a clear plan for aligning agricultural policies with climate change, for developing key agricultural institutions’ capabilities, and for making needed infrastructure and on-farm investments. Developing such a “climate-smart” plan ideally involves access to a combination of high-quality quantitative analysis and consultations with key stakeholders, particularly farmers, as well as local agricultural experts—and these analyses and consultations must take explicit account of the uncertainty of future climate as well. The most effective plans for adapting this sector to climate change will involve both human and physical capital enhancements, many of which may also enhance agricultural productivity under current climate variability and conditions, giving the measures a “win-win” quality. In the South Caucasus countries, climatesmart plans are focused on adapting the sector to climate change as a primary Building Resilience to Climate Change in South Caucasus Agriculture http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0214-0
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