Chapter – 14 Drought

Drought is a physical condition when the rainfall is deficient in reference to average rainfall for a
region. It extends over a period of a season or even more. Drought’s characteristics and impacts
vary across the world for different regions such as rainfall pattern, human response and resilience
and varied academic perspectives.

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (2016), defines drought as “Drought is a temporary
aberration, unlike aridity or even seasonal aridity (in terms of a welldefineddrought), which is a
permanent feature of climate. Drought in contrast is a recurrent, yet sporadic feature of climate,
known to occur under all climatic regimes and is usually characterized by variability in terms of
its spatial expanse, intensity and duration”.

Wilhite (2006), defines drought as “a severe moisture deficit below expected levels that restricts
some type of activity”. White and Walcott (2009), state that drought differs from aridity
condition where permanent low rainfall is permanent feature.

Manual for Drought Management (2009), defines drought as “Drought is a normal, recurrent
feature of climate and occurs in all climatic regimes and is usually characterized in terms of its
spatial extension, intensity and duration”.

Drought differs from other hazards as it has slow onset not catastrophic. It evolves over a long
period of time over months and sometime years. It may affect ranging from small region to large
regional extent. The impact of drought on economy, environment and society can be reduced by
taking preparedness and mitigation measures. Because drought is prolonged period of water
deficiency which can be dealt by effective planning in timely and systematic manner.

India being a rain fed country has faced series of drought in certain interval period or during
failure of Monsoon. Thus it is necessity for India to be ready for drought preparedness and
mitigation plan in advance. Based on previous experiences and presuming future drought
conditions,India has managed droughts through several mitigation plans like Drought Prone
Areas Programme (DPAP), Desert Development Programme (DDP), Integrated Watershed
Development Programme (IWDP) and the National Watershed Development Programme for
Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) etc. The Department of Land Records, in the Ministry of Rural
Development, has now brought DDP, DPAP and IWDP together, under a comprehensive Status
and Context programme named, the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP).
This programme is to be implemented under the Common Guidelines on Watershed
Development.
The monsoon failure or deficit rainfall due to climate change and global warming has increased
the frequency of incidence of droughts which are unpredictable and difficult to manage. Thus,
the year of 2005 has been recorded as paradigm shift in the mitigation of drought from relief-
centric approach to proactiveprevention, mitigation and preparedness oriented approach.

14.1 Classification of Drought

Drought is a situation of long and continuous dry weather or deficit rain which results into loss
of soil moisture, depletion of underground water table and reduction of volume of surface runoff
(stream flow).

The National Commission on Agriculture has identified three types of drought:

a) Meteorological Drought
b) Agricultural Drought
c) Hydrological Drought
a) Meteorological drought is a situation when there is significant deficiency of precipitation
from normal over an area (i.e. more than 10 %).
b) Agricultural drought is a situation when soil moisture and rainfall are inadequate to support
healthy crop growth. Drought proofing measures are taken before the crop is planted such as
improving Water Holding Capacity (WHC) of soil through organics/silt, land configurations
etc. Drought management measures are those initiated during the crop growing period (in situ
conservation, reduction in plant population, supplemental irrigation etc.).
c) Hydrological drought results from prolonged meteorological drought manifested in depletion
of surface and subsurface water resources. It must be noted that hydrological drought could
occur even when the rainfall is normal, if there has been a substantial reduction in surface
water holding capacity.
Figure 1: Types of Drought
Source: National Drought Mitigation Centre, University of NebraskaLincolin.
(https://drought.unl.edu)

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has identified droughts based on period of
occurrence:

a) A Drought Week:if rainfall in a week is less than half of its normal amount.
b) An Agricultural Drought:if four drought weeks occur consecutively during mid-June to
September
c) A Seasonal Drought:if seasonal rainfall is deficient by more than the standard deviations
from the normal.
d) A Drought Year:if annual rainfall is deficient by 20 % of normal or more.
e) Severe Drought Year:if annual rainfall is deficient by 25-40% of normal or more.

The Irrigation Commission (1972) set up by Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India
(GoI) has identifieddrought areas as “those areas that experience meteorological drought in 20
percent of years as drought prone areas and those experiencing meteorological drought in more
than 40 percent of years as chronic drought prone areas” (Management of Drought, 2010).
The National Commission on Agriculture identified an agricultural drought if at least four
consecutive weeks receive less than half of the normal rainfall (< 5 mm) during Kharifseason or
six such consecutive weeks in Rabi season (Management of Drought, 2010).

HanumathaRao committee (1994) suggested climatic variables as well as irrigated area and
source of irrigation be used to redefine drought prone districts. It means drought can be defined
in integrated manner including different variables (Table 1)

Table 14.1: Vulnerability Analysis Using Multiple Criteria for Identification of Drought

Variables

Meteorological – rainfall, temperature etc

Soils - depth, type, available water content etc

Surface water use - percent irrigated area, surface water

supplies

Ground water – ground water availability/ utilization

Crop – cropping pattern changes, geospatial land use, crop

condition, anomalies of crop condition etc.

Socio-economic – population of weaker sections, size class

of farm holdings
Source: Management of Drought, NDMA, 2010.

The integrated variability analysis will be helpful for preparation of drought vulnerability and
risk maps at state, district and community level.

14.2 Drought Risk/Vulnerability

Vulnerability to drought is intense in the regions which face high risk of water shortage and
community is exposed to such arising problem. Vulnerability of drought has been defined as
economic, social and environmental characteristics and practices of the communities that make it
susceptible to the effects of a drought (Barkved, et al. 2014).

The magnitude of the drought event has been graded on a scale of values as “Moderate” and
“Severe” (Drought Management Plan, 2017).The traditional approach to drought as a confined to
arid and semi-arid areas is changing in India due to change in atmospheric condition under the
influence of global warming. In recent time it has been observed that even high rainfall regions
often face severe water scarcities. Cherrapunji in Meghalaya which receives highest rainfall of
the world about 1100mm sometime faces drought for almost nine months of the year.
Conditions of water scarcity in the Himalayan region are also not uncommon. In recent years
such high rainfall areas in Himalayan states have faced severe water scarcity due to decreasing
rainfall and increasing population and tourists.The droughts in Odishareceives an average annual
rainfall about 1100 mm but very often it remains a matter of concern.

Thus, drought situation may emerge due to scarcity or deficit rainfall but on other hand it is also
related to an issue of water resource management.

As part of substitution of rainwater, to meet the requirement, groundwater has been used for
drinking (80 – 90 percent) and irrigation (50 percent).

The vulnerability of drought increases from onset of monsoon to advancing of monsoon (June to
September). Departure from normal to deficit condition of rainfall make drought situation.

Table 14.2 exhibits departure of rainfall from normal to deficit from 1972 to 2015 which arises
drought situation. The year 2009 exhibits highest variation when South West Monsoon registered
onset of baleful rainfall with 47 percent deficit and further continued in later months. In the year
of 2014, last month sufficient rainfall in September was not sufficient to support agriculture. The
year of 2015 monsoon period started with good news of favourable monsoon but later remaining
months could not receive adequate rainfall and average rainfall of the season registered 14
percent departure from normal rainfall.

Table 14.2: Month – wise Departure from normal to deficit rainfall (Percentage departure for the
country as a whole in recent major drought years)

Years June July August September June – September

1972 -27 -31 -14 -24 -24
1979 -15 -16 -19 -28 -19
1987 -22 -29 -4 -25 -19
2002 +4 -51 -4 -10 -19
2009 -47 -4 -27 -20 -22
2014 -42 -10 -10 +8 -12
2015 +16 -16 -22 -24 -14
Source: Manual for Drought Management, 2016

According to Drought Management Plan (2017) about 68% of cropped area in India is vulnerable
to drought, of which 33% receives less than 750 mm of mean annual rainfall and is classified as
“chronically drought-prone” while 35% which receive mean annual rainfall of 750-1125 mm is
classified as “drought-prone”. The drought-prone areas of the country are confined primarily to
the arid, semi-arid, and sub-humid regions of peninsular and western India.
Table 14.3: Percentage of Cropped Area Falling Under Various Ranges of Rainfall and
Vulnerable to Drought in India

S. No. Mean Annual Rainfall Classification of Rainfall Percentage of Cropped Area

Ranges Vulnerable to Drought
1 Less than 750 mm Low rainfall 33%
2 750 mm to 1125 mm Medium rainfall 35 %
3 1126 mm to 2000 mm High rainfall 24%
4 Above 2000 mm Very high rainfall 8%
Source: Manual for Drought Management, 2016

Figure 2: District Level Agriculture Drought Occurrence Frequency (2000-2015)

Source: Drought Management Plan, 2017

14.3 Assessment of Drought

Drought assessment starts with rainfall measurement. The spatial and temporal variability of
rainfall is very high in the semi-arid and arid areas prone to drought. The Committee constituted
by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation on “Drought and Desertification” have
recommended a rain gauge for every 40 sq.km. However, it is felt necessary to have a rain gauge
for every 25 sq.km. The rainfall data not only needs to be accurately measured and recorded once
in a day but required to be measured more frequently within a day and transmitted on real time
basis. Telemetric rain gauges are useful in not only recording real time rainfall data but also
transmitting the same to data centre which enables near time analysis. . The availability of
real/near, real time rainfall/weather data makes it possible to develop early warning systems. The
digital data obtained from telemetric rain gauges enables not only efficient data base
management but also in developing and operationalizing early warning systems and
development of meteorological, agricultural and hydrological models which provides decision
support tools.

14.4 Monitoring and Warning of Drought

14.4.1 Monitoring of Drought

Drought has been monitored from onset and the withdrawal of southwest monsoon. Indian
Meteorological Department (IMD) make weather forecasts broadly into three categories viz. (1)
short range forecast (validity for less than 3 days), (2) medium range forecast (validity from 3-10
days), and (3) long range forecast (validity for more than 10 days). These forecasts are issued
through the All India Radio, the Doordarshan and various Newspapers. The National Centre for
Medium Range Weather Forecasting in the Department of Science and Technology disseminates
weather related information through its network of Agro-Met Advisory Service units located
mainly in the State Agricultural universities and ICAR institutes.

Detailed project report for Integrated Agriculture Drought Management Information System has
been prepared for National Informatics Centre. Maintenance of a substantial segment of such
information system, monitoring and dissemination of the information is already in place in
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Having delineated drought prone areas, their degree one could proceed onward to the criteria for
observing important markers. The observing markers will be rainfall and other associated
weather parameters:
  Crop health (based on satellite derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
and field reports).
 Available ground water (variation in ground water table) and surface water resources.
 Migration and impact on community

14.4.2 Early Warning and Forecasting of Drought

With the launch of the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRSS) in 1988, Ministry of Earth
Sciences in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has set up 89
centres for short and medium range monitoring and forecasting of weather.

In order to overcome the limitations of drought monitoring, a project titled ‘National Agricultural
Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS) sponsored by the Department of
Agriculture and Cooperation and the Department of Space (DoS) was taken up by the National
Remote Sensing Agency in collaboration with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD),
Central Water Commission (CWC) and concerned State Government agencies.

14.5 PREVENTION and PREPAREDNESS

Counteractive action and Preparedness implies pre-disaster exercises intended to expand the
level of availability and improvement of operational and institutional capacities for reacting to a
drought. Drought counteractive action and readiness include water supply expansion and
preservation (for example water collecting strategies/rain water harvesting or storing),
development of water system offices, successful managing drought, and open mindfulness and
instruction. Transport and correspondence connections are an absolute necessity to guarantee
supply of nourishment and different items during and, soon after a drought.

14.5.1 Drought Prone Area Delineation (Block/Mandal)

National Disaster Management Guidelines for managing drought (2010) have identified
following parameters for delineating drought prone areas:
 Precipitation (long term average - 30 to 50 yrs) (Short Term average – 5 to 10 yrs for
giving genuine picture as precipitation design may change over the period for example
Cherapunji).
 Cropping pattern (past 3 to 5 yrs).
 Accessible enhancement water system or irrigation facilities (well,tank, lakes, ground
water and so on).
 Satellite inferred markers (last 10 a long time).
 Soil map.
 Ground water accessibility map.
 Cattle population and fodder demand.
  Socio economic data.
 Other water demands like for drinking, industrial use etc.
 Accumulation and production of information base also, spatial system for analysis.

Intensity of Drought Effectiveness (high, moderate and low) has been reviewed on the basis of
drought proneness because it influence the means required for readiness. It would require
following approaches:

 Affectability to Rainfall Variation.

 Frequency of Occurrence of Drought.
 Vulnerability of Community (individuals and animals) to Drought.

14.6 MITIGATION

Mitigation activities, programs, and approaches are actualized during and previously drought to
decrease the size of hazard to human life, property, and beneficial limit.

Crisis reaction will consistently be a section of drought management because government bodies
will foresee, keep away from, or decrease all potential impacts through mitigation programs.

As frequency of droughts in different parts of the country increases, the need has been felt that
policy should shift from drought relief to drought mitigation. These mitigation measures are
significant for adjusting to environmental change, re-establishing biological parity, and bringing
advancement advantages to the general population.

These mitigation measures are identified with coordinated soil, water and forest management,
and, will shape some portion of soil preservation, watershed advancement and ranger service
programs. The drought mitigation measures:

 Direct of pilot ponders taking all things together classes of drought inclined zones for
recommending long term moderation measures.
 Union of exercises gained from studies completed by Central Research Institute for
Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Worldwide Crop Research for Semi-dry Tropics
International Crop Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India
Meteorological Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and Indian
Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR).
 Cloud-seeding as a conceivable measure of relief will be considered.

14.6.1 Judicious Use of Surface and Groundwater

In drought affected areas rainwater is the principle source of surface and ground water revival. In
view of progressively extreme utilization of ground water in many places of the nation during the
most recent couple of years, revive of ground water did not occur.

Water management issues concern:

 reduce excessive exploitation of groundwater for irrigation.
 expanded grouping of salts in the soil profile and groundwater.
 expanded grouping of explicit particles like fluorides and nitrates in water and
 absence of accessibility/diminished accessibility of drinking water for cattles in water
bodies like lakes and ponds.

Immediate steps are essential to make proficient utilization of accessible surface and
groundwater in drought affected regions - turning to drip and sprinkler at every possible areas
including commercial crops.

14.6.2 Cloud Seeding in Drought Prone Regions

The South African cloud seeding exercise was done during 1991-1995 with an innovation
technology. The outcomes appeared measurable increment in precipitation in a wide range of
precipitation.

The central peninsula of India is a rain shadow area. The cloud seeding programs have been
taken up by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra since 2003. In same year Andhra
Pradesh government, in the context of poor rainfall and prolonged dry spells, launched a cloud
seeding programme to induce rain in the drought-hit Anantapur district. In 2008, with a NGO
carried out cloud seeding during the drought spell period in Karnataka.

It is required to take up more experiments in the country to assess the aerosol characteristics,
suitability of nuclides for cloud seeding. A cloud seeding strategy should be defined at National
level and, State level for making required condition to direct these measures.

14.6.3 Micro Irrigation Systems

It has been perceived that utilization of present day irrigation techniques like drip and sprinkler
water system is the main option for proficient use of surface just as ground water assets. The
Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) in 2006 propelled a Centrally Sponsored Small
Scale Irrigation Scheme under which out of the complete expense of the MI System, 40% will be
borne by the Central Government, 10% by the State Government and the staying half will be
borne by the recipient, either through his/her claim assets or delicate advance from money
related establishments. The evapo-transpiration misfortunes could be reduced and harvest yield
advanced by micro-irrigation system.
The State Departments of Agriculture and Rural Universities will:
 Advance development of harvests under crop diversification particle through
Sprinklers/dribble irrigation system.
 Advance defensive irrigation through small scale irrigation system through incentives.
 Advice on the cropping frameworks to be secured under defensive water system through
proper miniaturized scale water system frameworks.

Several programs focused towards drought mitigation at State level have been launched. These
programs like:

14.6.7 Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has been detailed with the vision of
broadening the inclusion of irrigation 'Har Khet Ko Pani' and improving water use proficiency
'More harvest per drop' in an engaged way with end to end arrangement on source creation,
conveyance, management, field application and augmentation exercises. The segments of
PMKSY are:

a) Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) with the attention on quicker

consummation of progressing Major and Medium Irrigation ventures.
b) Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) which manages Source expansion, circulation, ground
water improvement, lift water system, preoccupation of water from water bounty to water
rare zones, enhancing precipitation water gathering, fix, rebuilding, redesign of
conventional water bodies and so on.
c) Per Drop More Crop which identifies with Micro level stockpiling structures, effective
water movement and application, accuracy water system frameworks.
d) Watershed development which focuses on Ridge region treatment, waste line treatment,
soil and dampness protection, water collecting structure, employment bolster exercises
and other watershed works in rain fed region/degraded areas.

PMKSY has been formulated as an umbrella scheme amalgamating ongoingschemes viz.

Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) of the Ministry ofWater Resources, River
Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD&GR),Integrated Watershed Management
Programme (IWMP) of Department of LandResources (DoLR) and the On Farm Water
Management (OFWM) of Departmentof Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare
(DAC&FW).

14.6.4 Post Harvest Management

India loses around 35-40% of the leafy foods vegetable produce because of inappropriate Post
Harvest management which is equivalent to the total consumption of United Kingdom. To
maintain a strategic distance from the Post-Harvest Losses, a chain of cold stockpiles should be
made alongside Post Harvest Management practices like pre cooling, cold stockpiles and
refrigerated vehicle.

The technique of procurement, stockpiling and appropriation of sustenance grains involve

numerous advantages to the general public. Thus adequate enhancement in storage facilities and
prevention of post harvest losses should be key elements for crop management.

14.6.5 Water Conservation, Storage Structures and Management

In regions of hydrological droughts, water conservation measures at enormous scale by the

Government taken up during droughts. Managing water by closing of the sluice gates of minor
irrigation tanks to supply drinking water to the livestock requires attention at time of
hydrological drought. Water budgeting at watershed level and community level can be extremely
beneficial to provide information to PRI. This information can be utilized for availability,
demand and management/conservation practice based on intensity of drought.
Farmers will be encouraged to apportion at least 1% of their land holding for constructing a pond
in their farm. They will be made aware about the benefits of such practices as availability of
water during drought and recharging of ground water table. A cropping pattern will be suggested
for short duration varieties.

14.6.5.1 Water Harvesting and Conservation

It is a process and structure of rainfall and run- off collection from catchment area and
channeling them for utilization at time in lean period. The households can meet their minimum
need of water through water harvesting. The water harvesting can be processed by two methods:
(a) artificial recharge of groundwater and (b) traditional methods. These are low-cost and
environment friendly approaches. Such methods become useful if rainfall becomes deficit.
 Fig. Rainwater Harvesting

Source: Arvind, P. S. and Kamaldeep Sangwan (2018), The Journal of Rural and Agricultural
Research Vol. 18 No. 1 pg 50-53.

Several positive impacts have been observed from rainwater harvesting such as:
 It helps in utilizing the primary source of water.
 Prevents the runoff from going into sewers or storm drains
 Reduces the load on treatment plants.
 It also reduces urban flooding and by recharging water into the aquifers
 Helps in improving the quality of existing groundwater through dilution.

14.6.5.2 Water Saving Technologies: Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems

Drip irrigation is also known as trickle irrigation. Water deficit states are promoting water-saving
technologies such as sprinkler and drip irrigation. It has achieved a greater irrigation efficiencies
over small-size of land holdings. The sprinkler irrigation is micro tube drips work under a very
low pressure which irrigate more uniformly. It is highly suitable for cultivation of fruits,
vegetables and orchard crops. These techniques do not demand high maintenance as compared to
other irrigation system.
14.6.6 Long-term Irrigation Management

A long-term management of water is possible through irrigation projects. It would expand area
under cultivation and reduce possibilities of drought. The important features of long term
irrigation management deals with:

a) Monitoring Reservoirs: Under this measure that is need of controlling water resource
through water budget for each reservoir.
b) Setting up Water Users Association: there is need of setting up of such association with
participation of local communities in management of irrigation resources. This would be
helpful for the state to manage the release of water because State irrigation department
will be charged through WUA. The supply of water shall be make according to the
demands of farmers.

14.6.7 Crop Insurance

A one of key instrument to battle the unfavorable money related effect of droughts on the
farmers is agricultural insurance. In spite of the fact that the agricultural insurance plans have not
been successful, the GoI has taken actions towards expanding its inclusion and reach. An All-
India Comprehensive Crop Protection Scheme (CCIS) for real yields was presented in 1985. It
was therefore supplanted by the National Agricultural Insurance Plan (NAIS) in 1999.

Insurance scheme has been developed for diverse agro-climatic zones giving inclusion against
drought. The Central/State Governments will advance in these zones, farming protection
programs and guarantee that farmers are educated about the accessibility of protection items and
teach them about the requirement for dealing with their yield and salary chances through
protection inclusion. Thus, government will focus on:

 Crop insurance will proceed and job of horticulture insurance agency will be extended.
 Climate insurance will be advanced for crops not having information base on
profitability. Government will set up robotized climate stations where vital.
 The extent of the National Agricultural Protection Scheme (NAIS) will be augmented to
incorporate pre-planting and post collect misfortunes.
 Mindfulness will be improved with reference to trim protection through state divisions to
improve inclusion.
 Value vacillations will be balanced out by fortifying connections of ranch items with
agro-based enterprises.
 Cost connected insurance products will be elevated to keep away from trouble offers of
homestead produce.
  The utilization of satellite inferred harvest condition pictures as surrogates to harvest
yield appraisals will be investigated to encourage for settlement of protection claims.

As far as risk of drought increases, the farmers have been encourage to subscribe the crop
insurance schemes. This scheme have been existing since 1985 which have been modified as
need arises. To make awareness and making farmers familier with the schemes Govt. of India
has come forward with “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana” (PMFBY) which provides 1.5
percent for Rabi crops and 2 percent for Kharif for food crops and oilseeds insurance cover. This
provides sufficient financial support to farmers against losses due to natural calamities and also
take care of indebtedness and poverty related issues to crops.

14.7 Response and Relief

The drought affected States need to investigate the drought phenomenon and find long term
arrangements, including instant relief. Govt. of India needs to enable them to concentrate on the
principle issues for approach plan and further activities like:

i) Understanding the idea of drought.

ii) Altering the recognition and reaction to drought.
iii) Changing the methodology from alleviation to moderation of drought.

Important issues in drought mitigation and relief have been traced in vulnerable areas and
affected population. The necessity has been felt to develop inclusive and effective land use
planning. Drought unfavorably impacts on occupation and economies in the rain-fed, arid and
semi-dry zones. The long term solution for drought must be centre upon focused planning which
consider generation of source of livelihood and irrigation in rain-fed areas and drought affected
regions. The Crisis Management Plan (CMP) and the National Manual for Drought Management
of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) has provided some valuable guidelines
for implementation of drought response and relief measures.

14.7.1 Relief Employment

The most important part of relief measures is to generate employment during the drought
because during drought farmer’s tradition source of livelihood gets halted. Thus it comes in
attention of State government to provide employment or some relief wish cash support.

(a) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)

The Government of India has begun Sampoorna Grameen Rojgar Yojana (SGRY) in 2002, as a
program for tending to the issues of seasonal joblessness due to drought. The Government of
India has begun the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
(MGNREGS) in all locale of the nation w.e.f. April 01, 2008. This program together with
different plans generates sufficient work to hold over the hardships brought by drought.
Under this programme, govt. bodies at district level generate employment in drought affected
areas through construction of tanks and wells and the State Governments combine other
development schemes such as water conservation programmes with relief employment
programmes. These works will be begun under the accompanying schemes:-

 National Watershed Development Programme for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA).

 Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)

Local Area Development (LAD) agencies are responsible for the implementation for these
programmes. Such programmes would be implemented under the following National Programs:

 National Horticulture Mission (2005-06).

 National Bamboo Mission (2006-07).
 National Nourishment Security Mission.
 Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) (2007).
 Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (1996-97).
 Artificial Ground Water Recharging.
 Compensatory Afforestation Store Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) of
Ministry of Environment and Forests.

14.7.2 Cattle Health Care

The role of animal husbandry with farming provides livelihood during drought because the
impact of drought is less in areas of mixed farming. Thus, veterinary camps for farm animals are
beneficial.

Health hazards in people and animals are due to poor access to dietary sustenance and water
during drought. Similar to Tamilnadu, State Governments are required to formulate fodder policy
with giving due significance on drinking water prerequisites.

To mitigate/moderate the drought circumstance and to save the cattle following strategies have
been adopted:

 Examination of requirement for fodder will be done well progress of time.

 Cultivation of the fodder over Government as well as farmers' lands with purchasing
assurance to be promoted.
 Establishment of fodder banks.
 Conserving fish and aqua culture during droughts.
 With the assistance of Ministry of Railways in transportation of fodder and drinking
water from unaffected to affected areas.
 Making online availability of information about demand and supply of fodder.
  Undertaking market intercession to keep the costs sensible.
 Increase of water protection measures in the villages.

14.8 Capacity Building

Human Resource Development, Training, Education and Capacity Building are fundamental
parts of the effective Drought mitigation and management. Capacity Building is a long-term
phenomenon which has to be at the policy, implementation, Institutional and individual levels.
Capacity Building is a long term objectives which is to be achieve through a systematic policy,
implementation, institutional and personal levels. Capacity building incorporates actions of
central and state governments, Panchayati Raj Institutiions (PRI), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
and NGSs.

14.8.1 Training in Drought Management

Training Needs Assessment (TNA) and Education of officials and individual who participate in
drought coping and management strategies. Training is an essential part of capacity building in
drought management and better results. The training program will improve approach of
mitigation at Govt. departments, organizations and institutions level. The individuals from other
agencies like Community Base Organisation or NGOs are also included.
The following areas will be focused during training:
 Natural resources management with preference of water conservation and management,
watershed development, and revival of water bodies.
 Post harvest preparedness and value addition.
 Use of information technology and remote sensing applications.
 Monitoring and assessment.
 Intensive and focused training of elected public representatives and politicians.
 Coordination and incorporation between departments and institutions.
 Ground water recharge management options.
 Education and training of micro-irrigation system and supplement irrigation using
harvested water.
 Revival of existing facilities, de-silting of tanks, repairs etc.
 Livestock development and management and breed improvement
 Agro forestry, farm forestry and dry- land horticulture.
 Drought assessment, prediction and weather based agro-meteorology.
 Generation of source of livelihood and irrigation system during drought.

14.8.2 Education
Education has been considered a core part for drought management and research/innovations.
Interdisciplinary studies of ecology and environmental science which accommodate the
knowledge and skills of various natural, social and agricultural sciences on drought management
would be integrated on curriculum. NDMA has made efforts to integrate and popularize Disaster
Management (DM) into the formal education systems. It has also made efforts to introduce
advance Disaster Management courses at Under Graduate levels and professional course levels.

14.8.3 Community Awareness

Community awareness and developing community integration for effective Drought
Management is the urgent need of the time. As it has been reported from previous incidences of
drought that low income groups are the most vulnerable to drought, the design and content of
community awareness and education would be focused on to generate alternate source of
livelihood, supplementing income and government schemes during drought. Community has
been made aware about drought preparedness and mitigation which would be informed, altered
and motivated during and before drought.

14.9 Climate Change and Drought

Climate change and agricultural issues are interlinked. Climate change and agriculture are
interrelated processes, both of which take place on a global scale. An unnatural weather change
is anticipated to affect conditions influencing farming, including temperature, carbon dioxide,
glacial flow, precipitation and the connection of these components.

These conditions decide the carrying capacity of the biosphere to generate nourishment for the
human population and domesticated animals. In the year 2008 India released the National Action
Plan on Climate Change. The plan "recognizes measures that advance our development levels
while likewise yielding co-benefits for directing to environmental change viably," and blueprints
existing and future approaches and action plan handling climate mitigation and adaptabilities.
The plan has identified eight core “national missions” running through to 2017.

One of the Missions, the “National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture” devises procedures to
make Indian agriculture stronger to climate or environmental change. It will select and grow new
varieties of crops and particularly temperature tolerant yields and substitute or alternate cropping
pattern which is suitable for existing weather conditions and long dry period, flooding and
variable moisture availability.

Climate or environmental change issues spread cross areas and speak to an emphasis on
ecological and socioeconomic frameworks because of decline in yield of grain harvests and
increasing risk of disasters.
Increase in temperature and change in humidity will affect human health because of growing
vector borne diseases, heat stress and other communicable diseases.

Conclusion

With the long past experiences, India has taken initiatives for shifting in approach of disaster
management from centric to holistic approach focusing on preparedness, prevention, mitigation
and risk reduction. Strong institutional integration at various levels have framed policies which
are improving our capabilities to reduce risk of disaster. Furthermore, there is always a scope to
identify and revise risk or vulnerable areas of drought to achieve sustainable goals. Thus there is
need of systematic integration of risk mitigration, preparedness and capacity building into
National Policy framework.

With the enactment of the Disaster Management Act in 2005, India has taken the initiative for a
paradigm shift in disaster management, from erstwhile relief centric approach to a holistic
proactive one, encompassing preparedness, prevention, mitigation and risk reduction. The
country is slowly moving towards disaster risk reduction. The National policies being framed in
the country include mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction and development programmes,
besides community resilience building. Strong institutional structures have been established at
various levels with legislative back up and policy framework for enhancing our capabilities to
reduce risk and losses to economy and property. There is need to develop strategies for
identification of risks, challenges and equitable distribution of scarce resources, with a view to
contributing to achieve sustainable development goals. Also, systematic integration of risk
mitigation, preparedness and capacity building approaches into National Policy framework and
development programmes would not only strengthen institutional mechanism and help create
awareness among masses.

This Plan is, accordingly prepared keeping in view the theme of

National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) to achieve

“Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development: Making India Resilient by 2030”.
This DMP will be updated from time to time taking into account various factors.