Risk and Vulnerability Mailing List Archive

["Cecilia Luttrell" <<address removed>>]

Many thanks to Elizabeth Cromwell for leading us off with this pertinent point. 
Following this email, and the discussion under the other themes in the DFID 
e-forum on agriculture, it is clear that this is a timely point for the issues 
of risk and vulnerability to spring more clearly out of the discussion. So for 
all of you out there who have been biting your tongues and waiting with 
anticipation for the ripe moment to launch your thoughts on this topic, let me 
encourage proceed without caution. 

 

In his opening paper on this theme John Farrington poses the questions:

 

  1.. How can risk reduction be mainstreamed in to policy making in the 
agricultural sector?
  2.. How can the private sector assist agricultural growth in poor and remote 
areas? 
  3.. How can real protection against risk actually be implemented? 
But what are the questions should we be asking? Or what are the questions that 
you yourself want to answer...?

 

  a.. What do kind of risks should we be looking at? Do we need to go beyond 
the traditional list of weather, price fluctuations, changes in demand and the 
occurrence of new pests and diseases? 
  b.. What are the factors and outcomes associated with being risk aversive?
  c.. How can the poor manage uncertainties associated with the market and its 
dynamic nature?
  d.. What role do subsidies and trade barriers play in increasing or 
decreasing vulnerability?
  e.. Is diversification really the answer? 
  f.. How can the private sector be attracted to play a role in the promotion 
of risk reduction in agricultural growth? What regulatory reforms are needed?
  g.. Is it possible to actively promote informal institutions which act to 
reduce vulnerability? 
So with your answers, further questions and thoughts please help us to 
understand, amongst other things, how the 'trampoline effect' can be put into 
practice to ensure that the poor are able to 'bounce back' higher and more 
quickly from shocks..