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The class came up with policy that is focused on improving agricultural practices through crop diversification, improved livestock management (e.g., including veterinary treatments and cropland evaluation), farmer education, university research, and infrastructure improvement. There are opportunities to improve livestock management so that farmers will be less vulnerable to drought. Publicly subsidized insurance may be made available to farmers through private brokers, but should be limited to reduce moral hazard.

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What is the appropriate mix of drought management policies for the MENA region?

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What is moral hazard?

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Most of the financial capital comes from revenue from commodities, or loans to finance. But it is pretty difficult to finance growing operations because no government structure.

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Moral hazard is when people are protected from risk due to insurance or help from the government, and this makes people more likely to take risky actions.

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Demographics:
Agropastoral societies
Limited land is able to be used for crop production, the rest is desert
Properties not clearly laid out
More rural than urban areas
Poverty is highly present in the economies, traditional markets
There are more younger people than older populations, younger demographic.

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What roles do public and private organizations play in insurance?

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Private insurance may be more risky if the company has to make a lot of payments at once. Public insurance can reach more people and is offered by a bigger organization, which reduces the risk of offering insurance.

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What role does the government play in finance?

Mostly in subsidizing crop insurance. Regional and local governments may finance hydrologic infrastructure such as wells or pipelines.

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How do farmers currently get financial capital?

Local banks and microloans from NGOs are the most accessible source for additional capital, but even these might be difficult to source for rural herders and farmers. Liquidating herds in drought years can provide emergency funding and consolidates capital for later wet seasons. Crop insurance in bad years can help reclaim losses but is subject to moral hazards such as false claims.

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What are the demographic and economic characteristics of the MENA region? What is the age structure of the population?

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How do pastoral households approach drought management now?

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What happens to humans when there is drought?
Affects their livelihood through their crops and livestock, decreases community food supply so hunger impacts welfare, productivity, education, fertility, health

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What are different pastoral or livestock management practices in the region?

Most agropastoralists in the region are still reliant on traditional methods and heritage breeds of sheep or hair goats. Because stocking rates were typically reduced in times of drought, herders are hesitant to invest in veterinary practices or genetic improvements to create a more prolific herd, and instead of selling a yearly lamb crop, will keep a herd as a liquid asset until they face the need to sell a portion of their herd for food or cash.

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What happens to livestock when there is drought?

Initial coping strategies with a local water shortage include herding sheep to a far off location that could have more forage. In the case of extreme drought, lack of water, reduced forage capacity, and failure of the staple feed crop, Barley herders are unable to maintain weight on their herd and are forced to sell off large numbers. In times of drought, the local market faces a glut where everyone wants to sell, bottoming out prices.

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Educating a generation of farmers about livestock and crop practices. University study of stocking rates, rainfall predictions, best practice development.

Government--survey land to identify best use for different areas--national grazing areas (agrotourism)
Defining property rights.

Subsidies for shade crops that can also be grazed on, less reliance on barley (Diversifying the production practices)

Infrastructure improvements.--information, and financial capital