This brief describes the implementation of index-based flood insurance (IBFI) in countries with large smallhold farming communities to insure farmers against flood losses. The brief outlines the objectives of the IBFI scheme in Bihar, India and identifies key challenges and recommendations.

Key Recommendations

In order to reach the most vulnerable, decision makers and those involved in insurance schemes could:

• ensure a thorough understanding of the socio-economic context in which insurance schemes are implemented and identify which social factors create vulnerabilities.

• provide farmers, especially those who are illiterate or particularly vulnerable, with adequate information and training on the most suitable insurance products and how to make best use of them.

By: Sylvia Pineda.

Edition: José Antonio Arana.

The digital transformation of economies and societies in recent years has opened new, important possibilities for agriculture. In this context, we see the emergence of CGIAR’s Platform for Big Data in Agriculture, which aims to positively transform agricultural research, helping to generate powerful data management innovations that can revolutionize agriculture in developing countries.

by Madelline Romero

Researchers from eight Asian countries – Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam – gathered on December 12-13, 2017 in Haikou City, China, to form the Asian Forage Legumes Network.

This is in response to the increasing pressure for farming systems in Asia to produce more without causing further harm to the environment.

We are pleased to share the report, Second Advance Estimate of 2017 Paddy Production in Nepal using the CCAFS Regional Agricultural Forecasting Toolbox (CRAFT).

This is the final advance estimate of paddy production for the 2017 season.