Coping With Drought Course on Module V Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics ICRISAT

Audience This course is meant for farmers, students and those interested in agriculture to acquaint with drought and coping with this natural hazard. Structure This course is divided into lesson modules and specific lessons within each module. To select a Module and Lesson within a Module, click on the Module and Lesson on the screen. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Coping with Drought Course on Coping with Drought

After completing 5 Modules in this Course you have learned to: Define drought Explain the causes for drought List the features of drought Recognize the impact of drought on agriculture, livestock, economy of farmers and a country, environment, and society Identify methods to monitor drought Design plans to mitigate drought Recall drought in Maharashtra State Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Coping with Drought Course on Coping with Drought

The 5 Modules in this Course are: Module I: About DroughtAbout Drought Module II: Impact of DroughtImpact of Drought Module III: Monitoring DroughtMonitoring Drought Module IV: Reducing Risk from DroughtReducing Risk from Drought Module V: Drought Scenario in MaharashtraDrought Scenario in Maharashtra To select a Module and Lesson within a Module, click on the Module and Lesson on the screen. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Drought in Maharashtra

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra In the last Module in this course on “Coping with Drought”, the drought occurrence in Maharashtra is briefly described with a short introduction about drought in India.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra After completing this Module you have learned to: Recognize the occurrence of drought in India and Maharashtra. Locate drought prone areas in India and Maharashtra. Describe the rainfall features in Maharashtra that leads to drought in Maharashtra.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra Drought is not only a periodic phenomenon in India but also a permanent, harsh reality for many rural poor. Almost 70 percent of the country is considered drought-prone due to weak or irregular monsoon seasons.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra In India 33% area receives rainfall less than 750 mm – Chronically drought prone; 35% area receives rainfall between 750 – 1000 mm - Drought prone; 68 to 70% area of the country prone to drought in varying degrees.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra India receives its annual rainfall in 4 spells Pre-monsoon rainsMar-May10.4% South-west monsoonJune-Sept73.3% North-east monsoonOct-Dec13.3% Winter rainsJan-Feb3.0%

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra India has faced three major droughts in the 20 th century , and The 1987 drought was known as the drought of the Century and had a lasting impact on one-third of the country. All four years i.e to 2003 in the recent 21 st century are drought years in India. Reported drought events in India

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra Thirteen states in India are declared as chronically drought prone areas.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra Maharashtra State, has a tropical climate. About 70 per cent of Maharashtra land area is hot semi-arid to arid, supporting agriculture that is largely dependent upon monsoon rainfall.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra The annual rainfall in Maharashtra state varies from 400 mm to 6000 mm.The average annual rainfall is around 1300 mm.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra About 85% rainfall is received during southwest monsoon confined to only 3 to 4 months (June to September) of the year. The number of rainy days generally vary from 40 in the scarcity zone to 100 in the heavy rainfall zone.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra Average Anual Rainfall in mm 4000 – – – – – – – 600 Annual Rainfall In Maharashtra

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra The Deccan plateau of Maharashtra constitutes 50% of the drought-prone area of the state. 12% of the population lives in drought-prone areas. Once in 5 years, deficient rainfall is reported. Severe drought conditions occur once every 8-9 years.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra In terms of severity, Western Maharashtra has been the worst affected region, with almost all the districts except Kolhapur reeling under the impact of drought.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra In Marathwada, Osmanabad and Beed Districts are more seriously affected, whereas in Khandesh, Ahmednagar Districts are prone to frequent spells of drought. There are, however, inter-district and intra-district variations in the severity and extent of the drought with some Taluka more affected than others.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra For more information on drought in India and Maharashtra, please browse the following Web Sites: ought/dim.html hab/situation.htm

This concludes the Module V on “Drought Scenario in Maharashtra”. If you would like to check your understanding about drought in Maharashtra, click “Exercise” button. With this Module the course on Coping with Drought also concludes. If you would like to go through this course again, click the Module button Exercise Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Coping with Drought Drought in Maharashtra Exit from the Course Modules