Drought 2009: overview and management
This document on the management of drought during 2009 published by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture presents the deficiency & erratic behaviour of rainfall, impact of drought, mitigation efforts initiated and their results.
Agriculture in India is predominantly dependent on rains and the rainfall during the South-West Monsoon, i.e. from 1st June to 30 September is crucial for the agriculture sector as more than 70% of annual rainfall in the country occurs during this period. Droughts and drought like situations that have occurred in the past have emanated from extreme fluctuations in Monsoon during this period. The efficient and erratic rainfall during the South-West Monsoon 2009 caused widespread drought in most parts of the country. As a result, 14 states declared drought/drought like situation/scarcity in 338 districts of the country. Department of Agriculture and Cooperation has documented the drought scenario during 2009, bringing out the deficiency and erratic behavior of rainfall, impact of drought, mitigation efforts initiated and their results.