Drought Risk Mitigation Understanding Risk

Drought Risk Mitigation Understanding Risk

Vulnerability Maps

Block-wise rainfall deficit maps for the blocks with deficient rainfall – at crucial stages of the SW monsoon (early,

middle, and end) separately for NE monsoon

Comprehensive assessment of water deficit in dryland farming, rainfed, and drought-prone areas every year, at the end of the SW and NE monsoons

Agro-climatic region wise water deficit assessment reports for relevant regions separately at the end of SW and NE monsoon

Provide technical assistance to the State Govt./SDMC to prepare vulnerability maps

Analysis of satellite images, use of appropriate indicators

• Assessment, Monitoring, and Early Warning

• Improve the drought forecast, and assessment of water deficit in the arid/semi-arid, drought-prone, and dryland farming areas.

• Prepare detailed advisories on water conservation and crop management measures based on drought and water deficit in consultation with experts for each State/UT which is likely to face acute water deficit.

• Monitoring key drought indices at National and State levels

• Developing composite index of various drought indicators relevant to each agro-climatic zone.

• Develop a multi-criteria method based on various indices (vegetation, soil, water availability, etc.) as standardized framework for drought forecasting taking into account agro-climatic zones

• Drought Declaration

• Improve the criteria and method used for assessment of drought condition and key indicators for declaring drought

• Collaborate with State Government and its agencies for monitoring/ declaration of drought

• Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment

• Promote studies/provide guidelines on vulnerability assessment covering social, economic, ecological, gender, and equity aspects

• Study change in vulnerability and risk under climate change scenarios

• Research

• Agricultural research focussed on drought-prone areas, arid/semi-arid tracts, and dryland farming areas

• Research related to water conservation and management

Inter-Agency Coordination

Inter-agency coordination is a key component of strengthening disaster risk governance. It is required among both central and state agencies in the field of Overall disaster governance, Response, Warnings, Information and data sharing and Non- structural measures.

Investing in DRR - Structural Measures

• Storage Facilities

• Technical support for water conservation structures, integrated water resources management infrastructure needs (surface and groundwater)

• Fodder storage facilities to maintain fodder banks

• Rain water harvesting systems – individual and

community

• Water Conservation Structures

• Water harvesting and storage structures

• Check dams, reservoirs with excess capacity

• Groundwater recharge augmentation systems

• Ensure rainwater harvesting and storage in the social housing schemes especially in drought- prone areas

Investing in DRR–Non-Structural Measures

• Mitigation Measures

• Conduct pilot studies in drought prone areas for suggesting long term mitigation measures

• Promote watershed development projects

• Technical inputs on better crop management

(especially for dryland/ rainfed farming)

• Public Private Partnerships in disaster management facilities

• Encourage the use of water-efficient irrigation techniques such as sprinklers and drip irrigation.

• Support protective irrigation through micro-irrigation methods.

• Offer guidance to farmers on drought management, crop cultivation strategies during drought, and efficient water utilization.

• Provide training on water conservation and soil moisture retention techniques.

• Develop village-level information systems to aid in the sustainable management of natural resources.

• Promote afforestation and the cultivation of economically beneficial vegetation.

• Facilitate access to credit and financial products tailored for drought-prone regions.

• Advocate for agricultural insurance schemes and ensure farmers are well-informed about available insurance options.

• Provide risk coverage for farmers in dryland and rainfed areas who are highly vulnerable to unpredictable rainfall, as well as agricultural laborers dependent on such farming.

• Implement strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on drought conditions.

Capacity Development

• Training and Capacity Building

• Formulate and implement national training and capacity building programme for drought management, especially, better water conservation,

integrated water management (surface and groundwater), and cropping systems

• Make certain that skilled and experienced trainers proficient in drought mitigation and management techniques are available.

• Curriculum Development:

• Integrate fundamental aspects of disaster management, including drought, into undergraduate and postgraduate agricultural courses offered by central institutions.

• Incorporate drought mitigation strategies into

secondary and higher secondary school curricula.

• Awareness Generation:

• Conduct large-scale media campaigns. Foster a culture of disaster risk prevention, mitigation, and improved risk management.

• Encourage behavioral and attitudinal shifts through awareness initiatives.

• Promote the adoption of insurance and risk transfer mechanisms.

• Advocate for the use of community radio for information dissemination.

• Ensure that capacity-building initiatives encompass all aspects of disaster management with a focus on gender equity and inclusivity.

• Develop drought management plans based on comprehensive assessments of water deficits in drought- prone regions, considering Agro-Climatic Zones.

• All ministries and departments must incorporate disaster management strategies within their developmental initiatives.

Steps Taken to mitigate Droughts

• Command Area Development (1974): Launched to improve the irrigation potential, and its utilization and to improve agricultural production through efficient water management under the Ministry of Water Resources.

• Integrated Watershed Management Programme (1989- 90): It aims to replenish ecological balance by harnessing, restoring, and developing degraded natural resources with the help of Rural Employment. Named “Hariyali Guidelines” in 2003 later subsumed in Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (2015-16 to 2019-20).

• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the Integrated Drylands Development Programme (IDDP) with the overall goal to strengthen resilience by working on the twin vulnerabilities of poverty and unsustainable land management in the drylands.

• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) for drought mitigation measures.

• The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) developed a Drought Risk Reduction framework that takes an integrated development approach and provides a comprehensive framework for both higher-level and local action.

•
The Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP) and its partners have adopted three pillars of drought management:

• Drought monitoring and early warning systems to determine drought status.

• Vulnerability and impact assessment to determine who and what are at risk and why.

• Mitigation, drought preparedness, and response to set out actions and measures to mitigate drought impacts and to prepare to respond to drought emergencies.

• The framework is set out within the model for the overall process of developing a National Drought Management Policy, which was codified by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Global Water Partnership

(GWP) in their 2014 National Drought Management Policy Guidelines. Also United Nations Convention to COmbat Desertification CoP15 Summit Guidelines are also followed.

• River Water Interlinking Project.

Steps taken to combat Desertification:

• Desert Development Programme (1995): To minimize the adverse impact of drought and rejuvenate the natural resource base of the desert areas, implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.

• National Afforestation Programme (2000): For the afforestation of degraded forest lands and increasing forest base, this programme was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• National Action Programme to Combat Desertification (2001): It was launched to address issues of desertification and to take appropriate actions and implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• Accelerated Fodder Development Programme (AFDP): It aims to improve degraded grassland and vegetation cover of problematic soils like saline and acidic under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Diaries.

• Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (2016): by ISRO to study Desertification and Land Degradation in India.

• The Drought Mitigation Plan envisages more diesel and seed subsidy for farmers and also relief from loans and interest, apart from alternate plans of irrigation if rains are scant, in the rainfall deficit areas.

• Promoting Drought Tolerant Variety of seeds and Special scheme will be implemented for Rejuvenation Of Perennial Horticulture crops under National Horticulture Mission.

• Rescheduling of crop loans and providing interest subvention on rescheduled loans in drought affected areas is also planned.