Natural Disasters : Drought

Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a water shortage that can have serious consequences for ecosystems, agriculture, and communities.

Meteorological Drought: This type of drought is defined by a prolonged period of below-average precipitation.
Agricultural Drought: Agricultural drought occurs when there’s a shortage of soil moisture, which can adversely affect crop growth and yield.
Hydrological Drought: This type of drought impacts water supply systems, such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater, and can lead to reduced water availability.
Socioeconomic Drought: Socioeconomic drought refers to the impact of water shortages on communities, economies, and society as a whole.

Drought Week – The weekly rainfall is less than half of the normal.
Agricultural Drought- Four drought weeks occuring consecutively during mid-June to September.
Seasonal Drought– Seasonal rainfall is deficient by more than the standard deviation from the normal.
Drought Year– The annual rainfall is deficient by 20 percent of normal or more.
Severe Drought – The annual rainfall is deficient by 25 to 40 percent of normal or more.

Natural factors like irregular weather patterns and climate change.
Human activities like deforestation, over-extraction of groundwater, and pollution.
Drought can be exacerbated by a combination of both natural and human factors.

Reduced agricultural productivity, leading to food shortages and economic losses.
Water scarcity for drinking, industrial, and agricultural use.
Environmental damage, including loss of biodiversity and increased wildfires.
Social consequences, such as displacement and migration of people in search of water and livelihoods.
Increased competition for water resources can lead to conflicts.

Early warning systems to predict and monitor droughts.
Water conservation and efficient irrigation practices.
Government policies and programs to provide relief to affected areas.
Diversification of crops and livelihoods to reduce the impact of drought on agriculture.
Sustainable management of water resources.

Vulnerability mapping: Block-wise rainfall deficit maps in the relevant regions.
Assessment, Monitoring, Forecasting, Early Warning: Improve the drought forecast, prepare detailed advisories on water conservation and crop management, monitor key drought indices at National and State levels, and develop a composite index of various drought indicators.
Drought declaration:: Follow the most recent (updated) criteria and techniques for assessing drought conditions and key indicators for declaring drought, as recommended by the competent agency. Work with the state government and its agencies to monitor and declare a drought.
Drought management Plan: Support the development of drought management plans based on detailed forecasts of water shortage in drought-prone areas taking into consideration agro-climatic zones. Provide advice to states with significant areas at risk of drought or acute water shortage.
Non-Structural Measures : Promoting drip irrigation, providing advice to farmers, promoting village-level information systems, etc.