Prelims: Current events of National and International Importance | Environment
Why is in news?
India has called for a shift in global drought policy from reactive response to proactive, technology-enabled resilience at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
India’s Call at UNCCD COP 17
- It urged countries to strengthen early warning systems, watershed restoration and climate-resilient agriculture.
- It called for measures including watershed restoration, climate-resilient cropping and stronger early warning systems in drought-prone areas.
- It also said drought resilience should be supported by disaster funds earmarked for droughts, employment guarantees and emergency water supplies.
India’s approach to drought management
- Approximately 68 percent of India’s total sown area is drought-prone
- It is guided by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- The drought warning system is also supported by space-based drought forecasting from the India Meteorological Department and the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre.
- These systems are intended to ensure that a ‘dry spell’ or rainfall deficit does not immediately translate into a drought situation.
- Apart from early warning systems, India has multiple schemes aimed at strengthening water security.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana - introduced in 2019 - focuses on community-led groundwater management.
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana - introduced in 2015 - seeks to improve access to water for farmland through check dams, bunds and other water-conservation measures.
- There are also supplementary measures, including crop insurance, to reduce the financial pressure on farmers in the event of drought-related crop losses and reduced incomes.
Reference
DD News | India urges global shift from drought response to drought resilience at UNCCD CoP17
