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22% of damages in agriculture from natural disasters

Sendai, Japan- The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released a new study stating that 22% of damages from natural disasters, such as floods, droughts and storms, have an impact on agriculture.

This comes from a report from FAO, consisting of 78 post-disaster needs assessments in 48 developing countries spanning the 2003-2013 period.

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva emphasized the importance of the agricultural sector, stating that “it encompasses is not only critical for our food supply, it also remains a main source of livelihoods across the planet. While it is a sector at risk, agriculture also can be the foundation upon which we build societies that are more resilient and better equipped to deal with disasters,”

He noted that there is a need to prioritize Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the agriculture sector as studies have shown that for every one dollar spent on DRR, as much as four dollars are returned, in terms of avoided or diminished impacts.

A new facility focusing on how countries can be more resilient before disasters occur was launched by the FAO, which would be focusing on technical training and support for farmers and fisherman from rural communities.

New Technologies Supporting DRR

Having learned lessons from the 2011 earthquake, the BOSAI Industry fair showcased various technologies for DRR. The Japan Bosai Platform is a platform and catalyst for multi-stakeholders to pursue a holistic approach in reducing disaster impacts around the world.

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Hybrid car powers up an oven

Among the various developments was the use of hybrid cars as energy source during emergencies and disasters. Household appliances such as microwave ovens, lamps and rice cookers can get power from the vehicle.

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Model of the Tsunami Evacuation Tower

New structures such as the creation of Tsunami Evacuation Towers were also showcased at the fair.

Vegetable juice as emergency food

Practical Emergency items such as emergency kits and emergency food were also presented at the fair.