Explain the factors that contribute to droughts in India with specific reference to food production, distribution and availability. Can Indian agricultural policies resolve the issue?

Factors Contributing to Droughts in India

Droughts in India are a consequence of both natural climatic variability and human-induced environmental changes, leading to severe water scarcity across various regions.

1. Natural Factors:

• Monsoon Variability: India receives approximately 80% of its annual rainfall during the Southwest monsoon season (June-September). Any disruption, such as delayed onset, early withdrawal, or insufficient rainfall, can trigger widespread drought conditions. Erratic monsoons are a primary driver.
• El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): El Niño events are strongly correlated with below-normal rainfall in India, often leading to drier conditions. Similarly, a positive IOD can also contribute to drier monsoons.
• Climate Change: Rising global temperatures are altering precipitation patterns, increasing evaporation rates, and changing the intensity and duration of monsoons. Studies indicate climate change is making rainfall events more erratic and intense, extending dry periods.
• Cyclical Climate Patterns: Long-term cyclical weather patterns also contribute to periodic drought conditions that have historically affected the subcontinent.
• Skewed Distribution of Monsoon: Geographical factors, such as the rain-shadow regions (e.g., the leeward side of the Western Ghats), inherently receive less rainfall, making them perpetually vulnerable to drought.

2. Anthropogenic (Human-Caused) Factors:

• Deforestation and Land Degradation: The removal of forest cover reduces the land's capacity to retain soil moisture and disrupts local rainfall patterns. Nearly 30% of India's land is facing degradation, affecting its water-holding capacity.
• Inefficient Water Use and Over-extraction of Groundwater: Conventional flood irrigation techniques in agriculture waste a significant amount of water. Excessive withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation and domestic use has led to a drastic decline in water tables, exacerbating scarcity.
• Monocropping and Water-Intensive Agriculture: A shift from traditional drought-resistant crops to water-intensive commercial crops has increased vulnerability to rainfall fluctuations.
• Urbanization and Encroachment: Rapid urbanization and encroachment on natural water bodies and wetlands reduce the natural water storage capacity, leading to inadequate reservoir capacity during dry periods.
• Poor Water Management Policies: Inefficient water management, including inadequate infrastructure for water storage and distribution, exacerbates water scarcity during periods of reduced rainfall.

Impact on Food Production, Distribution, and Availability

Droughts have severe cascading effects on India's food system, impacting every stage from farm to plate.

1. Food Production:

• Crop Failure and Reduced Yields: Insufficient soil moisture and water availability directly lead to crop failures, especially in rainfed areas (which constitute about 56% of the total cropped area). Agricultural productivity can decline by up to 40% in severely drought-affected rainfed areas. Key Kharif crops like cotton, moong, arhar, and urad pulses, as well as groundnut and sunflower, show decreased acreage during drought years.
• Shift in Cropping Patterns: Farmers may be forced to shift to less water-intensive crops or abandon cultivation altogether, impacting the overall agricultural output and diversity.
• Livestock Impact: Scarcity of fodder and water leads to distress sale of cattle, reduced milk production, and often loss of livestock, which is a crucial secondary income source for many farmers.
• Increased Input Costs: Farmers spend more on irrigation (e.g., diesel for pumps) or buying water, increasing production costs and reducing profitability.

2. Food Distribution:

• Supply Chain Disruptions: Reduced agricultural output due to drought creates shortages, leading to disruptions in the supply chain from farms to markets.
• Price Volatility and Inflation: Scarcity of food grains and other agricultural products drives up market prices, leading to food inflation. This disproportionately affects low-income households, diminishing their purchasing power.
• Regional Disparities: Drought impacts are often localized, leading to significant regional disparities in food availability and prices, necessitating inter-state movement of food grains, which can be challenging and costly.

3. Food Availability:

• Reduced Household Food Basket: Water scarcity and dry environments shrink the household food basket, increasing dependence on markets. For many, this means a reduction in both quantity and quality of food consumed.
• Increased Food Insecurity: Droughts are a major contributor to food insecurity, especially for vulnerable populations. In 2023, 20% of India's population faced food insecurity problems, with extreme weather events like drought being a major reason.
• Malnutrition and Health Impacts: Chronic food shortages, poor dietary diversity, and reduced access to clean water contribute to widespread malnutrition, especially among children. This leads to increased incidence of diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, and anemia.
• Dependence on Public Distribution System (PDS) and Imports: During severe droughts, the government relies heavily on buffer stocks and the PDS to ensure food availability. In extreme cases, the country may need to resort to food grain imports, impacting national reserves and trade balance.

Can Indian Agricultural Policies Resolve the Issue?

Indian agricultural policies have evolved significantly to address drought, but their effectiveness in completely resolving the issue is an ongoing challenge. While progress has been made, persistent gaps remain.

Policy Area	Key Initiatives/Measures	Impact on Drought Resolution
Water Conservation & Irrigation	Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) (2015): "Har Khet Ko Pani" (Water to Every Field) and "Per Drop More Crop" components promote efficient water use through micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler systems), watershed development, and command area development. Watershed Development Component (WDC) of PMKSY: Focuses on development of rainfed areas and culturable wastelands. National Water Policy (draft 2012): Aims to address water scarcity and inequities in distribution.	These initiatives aim to enhance water security by increasing irrigation coverage and promoting efficient water use. They are crucial for drought-proofing. However, implementation challenges, inter-state water disputes, and over-reliance on groundwater persist.
Crop Protection & Risk Management	Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) (2016): Provides financial protection to farmers against crop losses due to natural calamities, including drought. Crop Contingency Planning: Region-specific agricultural contingency plans for drought conditions are prepared. Development of Drought-Tolerant Varieties: Research and development efforts by ICAR focus on high-yield, drought-tolerant seed varieties.	PMFBY offers a safety net for farmers, mitigating financial distress. Contingency planning helps in adapting to immediate challenges. However, issues like delayed claim settlements and limited coverage in some areas reduce their full potential.
Livelihood Support & Employment	Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Guarantees 100 days of wage employment; can be extended to 150 days during droughts to stabilize rural incomes. Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) & Desert Development Programme (DDP): Focus on non-agricultural development, alternative livelihoods, afforestation, and soil conservation in vulnerable regions.	These programs provide crucial income support and alternative livelihood opportunities, reducing distress migration and building resilience. DPAP and DDP address long-term environmental degradation.
Early Warning & Monitoring	National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS): Provides near real-time information on agricultural drought severity and persistence using satellite data. Drought Early Warning System (DEWS): India's first real-time drought monitoring platform (IIT Gandhinagar).	Improved monitoring and early warning systems allow for proactive measures and better preparedness, reducing the immediate impacts of drought.
Food Security & Distribution	National Food Security Act (NFSA) (2013): Ensures subsidized food grains to eligible households through the PDS. Buffer Stock Management: FCI maintains buffer stocks of food grains to manage supply during shortages.	NFSA and PDS are critical for ensuring food availability and preventing starvation during drought. Buffer stocks provide a crucial safeguard against price spikes and shortages.
Integrated Approach	Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) (launched 2025): Consolidates 36 existing agricultural schemes across 11 ministries, targeting 100 underperforming districts with a focus on irrigation, storage, loans, training, and technology. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Focuses on agroforestry, rainfed areas, water and soil health management, and climate adaptation.	PMDDKY aims for a holistic, converged approach to agricultural development, including drought mitigation. NMSA promotes sustainable practices crucial for long-term resilience.

While Indian agricultural policies have introduced significant measures, their complete resolution of drought issues is hampered by:

• Implementation Gaps: Discrepancies between policy formulation and on-ground implementation, often due to bureaucratic hurdles, financial constraints at state levels, and lack of awareness among farmers.
• Fragmented Approach: Despite recent attempts at integration (like PMDDKY), drought management often suffers from a fragmented approach across various ministries and departments.
• Over-reliance on Subsidies: Policies sometimes incentivize unsustainable practices, such as water-intensive cropping patterns, through input subsidies (e.g., free electricity for irrigation).
• Limited Reach of Technology: Advanced irrigation techniques or drought-tolerant seeds have limited adoption rates, especially among small and marginal farmers who form the majority.
• Ignoring Dryland Farming: Policies have historically neglected dryland farming, which accounts for a significant portion of cultivated land and is highly vulnerable to drought.
• Climate Change Adaptation: Rapidly changing climate patterns necessitate more dynamic and adaptive policy responses beyond traditional drought management.

Therefore, while policies provide a robust framework, continuous refinement, better implementation, and a stronger focus on sustainability, decentralization, and farmer-centric solutions are essential for truly resolving the drought issue in Indian agriculture.