Managing disasters with the help of science & technology

Natural and man-made disasters, and armed conflicts between or within nations and groups are on the increase in various parts of the world. And it is ironic that disastrous events adversely hit less-endowed and poverty-stricken regions, compounding the impact.

As a result, gains in agricultural and fishery production are wiped out, and socio-economic systems and infrastructures are reduced to shambles, most especially if countries fail to recognize their vulnerability to disasters, and that policies and funds are not properly implemented and disbursed, respectively.

These were stressed by former acting agriculture secretary William Dar in a paper he delivered at a workshop of the National Disaster Management Authority of India. He is currently the director general of the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in Patancheru, Andra Pradesh, India.

"An effective disaster management and mitigation program should feature three core elements, namely: putting in place conducive policies; investing in anticipatory research; and communicating the two elements via a well-coordinated advocacy and communication program," explained Dar, who holds the distinction of being the first Filipino to head a global research agency.

Studies show that in some countries foreign aid had not been as effective as intended by the donors, largely because the needs were not well understood and implemented by both implementers and beneficiaries.

Dar said the most viable way to reducing disaster vulnerability is to invest in anticipatory research, which serves as the backbone of preparedness. This includes allotting funds on early warning systems such as on climate variability, and areas vulnerable to flooding and erosion, mudslides, landslides and those located near volcanoes and earthquake fault lines.

For instance, ICRISAT has developed an advanced genetic transformation laboratory to improve drought resistance of major semi-arid crops. ICRISAT maintains laboratories and research stations in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, which conduct R&D in partnership with major science and development institutions, national governments, civil society, and the private sector. Its initiatives are aimed at reducing poverty and hunger, protection of the environment, and improve the well-being of some 300 million poor farm families in the semi-arid tropical regions.

ICRISAT is among the 15 members of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), or known as the "Alliance of Future Harvest Centers," which represents the world’s best in research and development (R&D) in all aspects of agriculture, fisheries, forestry and policy analysis. With offices and laboratories in 85 countries, CGIAR member-agencies use science to benefit the citizens of the world, most especially the poor.

"Disaster mitigation and management measures, and results of anticipatory research should be communicated well to policy makers, local officials and residents of disaster-prone areas. And mapping vulnerable areas and populations is an essential prerequisite," Dar stressed.

Further, understanding disaster management and rehabilitation strategies should be ingrained in development plans at every level – from the national, provincial or state level, down to the village or barangay level. In fact, Dar noted, disaster preparedness at the barangay should be the "heart" of all disaster management plans.

He said to date, CGIAR member-agencies have assisted 47 disaster-struck countries, where drought and desertification have inflicted medium and long-term economic damage on large populations of people and animals.

"We have developed a program to combat desertification, spurred by desert storms. And we found that simple technologies such as micro-dosing the fertilizer, combined with essential water conservation measures, could bring about a ‘grey-to-green’ transformation, even in conditions of desertification," Dar said.

CGIAR is also actively rehabilitating agriculture in conflict-affected countries.

After long years of conflict in East Timor, its seed and food systems were dislocated. In recent years, ICRISAT and the Australian government have introduced higher-yielding groundnut varieties.

Finally, to maintain biodiversity, Dar noted that CGIAR member-countries "hold in storage and trust for humanity" about 700,000 seeds of various crops planted worldwide.

"This, in effect, is our last safety net," he stressed.

New plant varieties are bred and tested using the genetic stock that the "Alliance of Future Harvest Centers" hold in trust – which is continuously helping revive agriculture in many disaster-struck and conflict-affected countries like Afghanistan, Somalia and Mozambique, Cambodia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Overall, CGIAR member-agencies and other international development agencies like the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization – which declared 2006 as the "Year of Deserts and Desertification" and "Year of Preventing and Mitigating Disasters," respectively – continue to advocate increased awareness on effectively managing and preventing natural and man-made disastrous events.

Summing up, Dr. Dar said improved agriculture translates as reduced vulnerability at various levels, and CGIAR member-agencies would continue to make great contributions to prevent death, dislocation, and hunger in the world, particularly disaster-vulnerable countries and regions.