A drought is a period of time when an area or region experiences below-normal precipitation. The lack of adequate precipitation, either rain or snow, can cause reduced soil moisture or groundwater, diminished stream flow, crop damage, and a general water shortage. It is interplay between demand that people place on natural supply of water and natural events that provide the water in a given geographical region. The more the imbalance in supply the higher the drought. Risks posed by droughts

• Water supply and quality: Reduced stream and river flows can increase the concentration of pollutants in water and cause stagnation. These levels can affect fish and other aquatic life and water quality. Moreover, communities may have limited access to water for household use, including drinking, cooking as well as hygiene and sanitation.
• Agriculture and livestock: Drought can limit the growing season and create conditions that encourage insect and disease infestation in certain crops. Low crop yields can result in rising food prices and shortages, potentially leading to malnutrition. Drought can also affect the health of livestock raised for food.
• Air quality and Health: The dusty, dry conditions and wildfires that often accompany drought can harm health. Fire and dry soil and vegetation increase the number of particles that are suspended in the air, such as pollen, smoke, and fluorocarbons which can cause chronic respiratory infections.
• Energy: Droughts can raise concerns about the reliability of electricity production from plants that require cooling water to maintain safe operations.

Risk reduction measures to combat droughts

• Public awareness and education: If the community is aware of the do’s and don’ts, then half of the problem is solved. Awareness regarding availability of safe drinking water, water conservation techniques, agricultural drought management strategies etc. can be generated through media.
• Drought monitoring: It includes continuous observation of the rainfall situation, availability of water in the reservoirs, lakes, rivers etc. and comparing with the existing water needs in various sectors of the society.
• Water harvesting: By either allowing the runoff water from all the fields to a common point or allowing it to infiltrate into the soil where it has fallen helps increase water availability for sustained agricultural production.
• Expansion of irrigation facilities: It reduces the drought vulnerability. Land use based on its capability helps in optimum use of land and water and can avoid the undue demand created due to their misuse.
• Livelihood planning: It includes identifying those livelihoods which are least affected by the drought such as off-farm employment opportunities, collection of non-timber forest produce from the community forests, raising goats, carpentry etc.
• Drought planning: It would help in effective coordination among state and national agencies, establishing a specialist team for drought situations, providing crop insurance schemes, creating drought emergency plans etc.
• Deploying alternative systems: It includes deploying green infrastructure for storm-water management, increasing energy efficiency in buildings and using renewable energy like solar that isn’t reliant on water.

With a growing population globally, water will become scarce and drought management and taking preventive measures to mitigate the conditions which force droughts from present time will lead to sustainability.  Answer: A drought is a period of time when an area or region experiences below-normal precipitation. The lack of adequate precipitation, either rain or snow, can cause reduced soil moisture or groundwater, diminished stream flow, crop damage, and a general water shortage. It is interplay between demand that people place on natural supply of water and natural events that provide the water in a given geographical region. The more the imbalance in supply the higher the drought. Risks posed by droughts

• Water supply and quality: Reduced stream and river flows can increase the concentration of pollutants in water and cause stagnation. These levels can affect fish and other aquatic life and water quality. Moreover, communities may have limited access to water for household use, including drinking, cooking as well as hygiene and sanitation.
• Agriculture and livestock: Drought can limit the growing season and create conditions that encourage insect and disease infestation in certain crops. Low crop yields can result in rising food prices and shortages, potentially leading to malnutrition. Drought can also affect the health of livestock raised for food.
• Air quality and Health: The dusty, dry conditions and wildfires that often accompany drought can harm health. Fire and dry soil and vegetation increase the number of particles that are suspended in the air, such as pollen, smoke, and fluorocarbons which can cause chronic respiratory infections.
• Energy: Droughts can raise concerns about the reliability of electricity production from plants that require cooling water to maintain safe operations.

Risk reduction measures to combat droughts

• Public awareness and education: If the community is aware of the do’s and don’ts, then half of the problem is solved. Awareness regarding availability of safe drinking water, water conservation techniques, agricultural drought management strategies etc. can be generated through media.
• Drought monitoring: It includes continuous observation of the rainfall situation, availability of water in the reservoirs, lakes, rivers etc. and comparing with the existing water needs in various sectors of the society.
• Water harvesting: By either allowing the runoff water from all the fields to a common point or allowing it to infiltrate into the soil where it has fallen helps increase water availability for sustained agricultural production.
• Expansion of irrigation facilities: It reduces the drought vulnerability. Land use based on its capability helps in optimum use of land and water and can avoid the undue demand created due to their misuse.
• Livelihood planning: It includes identifying those livelihoods which are least affected by the drought such as off-farm employment opportunities, collection of non-timber forest produce from the community forests, raising goats, carpentry etc.
• Drought planning: It would help in effective coordination among state and national agencies, establishing a specialist team for drought situations, providing crop insurance schemes, creating drought emergency plans etc.
• Deploying alternative systems: It includes deploying green infrastructure for storm-water management, increasing energy efficiency in buildings and using renewable energy like solar that isn’t reliant on water.

With a growing population globally, water will become scarce and drought management and taking preventive measures to mitigate the conditions which force droughts from present time will lead to sustainability.