Damage and Loss Assessment in Agriculture Sector Caused by Hazards (Georgian Case Study)

Natural and man-made hazards may disrupt and affect negatively agricultural sector. 0Damage and loss caused by disasters which are likely to become more frequent and severe due to Climate Change effects, need to be assessed, because precise sector-specific disaster losses and damage data are a vital indication for disaster risk reduction and policy-making. This paper responds to the necessity of creation a unified methodology for the damage and loss assessment in Agriculture Sector in Georgia. The paper introduces a comprehensive formula for damage assessment in agriculture sector. Assessment formulas has been designed to be compliant to the Sendai Framework requirements while enforcing the assessment of damages in agriculture with a multi-temporal dimension. The proposed methodology differs from other well know methodologies (ECLAC- DaLA, FAO and UNSDR methodologies) by excluding certain aspects and adding relevant variables (e.g. yield per hectare by region, irrigation and varieties; production capacity until full recovery of perennial crops etc. has been considered). Collected data can be used to calculate volume of compensation in agriculture sector and improve compensation procedures. As well as, it will enable relevant government agencies, private insurance companies, and research institutes to develop (calibrate) damage and loss assessment models. Keywords Disaster Assessment, Damage and Loss, Agriculture Sector, Georgia JEL Codes: Q10, Q18, Q58