4.        Drought Policy

 

Desirable features of drought weather codes of a sustainable framework are:

(i) Reliability    of   early    warning    systems    for    drought   is    a   complex phenomenon and requires upgradation.

 

(ii) Creation of data bank for scenario of human, livestock, water resources, food/fodder supplies, natural resources etc.  for major droughts in the past. Analysis  of  this  information  and  experience  should  provide  sound  basis  for future planning.

 

(iii) Billions of rupees are spent for drought mitigation in most of the years. This expenditure should  lead  significantly         towards drought   adaptations, mitigation/moderation and reduce vulnerability (poverty) in the future.  This may require paradigm shift in the planning and implementation process.

(iv) Perennial   component   of   vegetation   may   be   expanded   to   improve resilience or robustness.

 

(v) Concept of farming system approach involving social capital of humans, livestock and other subsidiary income generating activities.

 

(vi) Utilizing  potential  of  industrial  and  cash  crops  such  as  medicinal,  oil yielding  adapted  to  drought  conditions  to  expand  income  and  employment generating options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                         Ministry of Agriculture, GOI.