Across large parts of India, uneven monsoons, falling groundwater levels, and repeated heatwaves are tightening water availability for agriculture. According to recent state advisories and IMD updates, several regions are entering the sowing season with soil moisture deficits. For farmers, drought is no longer an occasional shock but a recurring production risk. What matters now is not theory, but field-tested practices that protect crops, conserve water, and stabilise income under dry conditions.
This briefing outlines current, actionable drought management strategies that Indian farmers can apply immediately—based on agronomy research, government advisories, and on-ground experience.
Understand Drought at the Farm Level
Drought does not look the same everywhere. Effective management begins with recognising the type affecting your land:
Meteorological drought: Low or delayed rainfall.
Agricultural drought: Soil moisture insufficient for crops, even if some rain occurred.
Hydrological drought: Declining groundwater, ponds, canals, and reservoirs.
Most Indian farms face a combination of agricultural and hydrological drought. The response must focus on soil moisture conservation and efficient water use, not just rainfall dependency.
Shift Crop Planning Based on Water Availability
Crop choice is the single biggest drought-risk decision.
What to prioritise now:
Short-duration and drought-tolerant crops.
Varieties released by state agricultural universities for rainfed conditions.
Crops with lower water demand during peak summer.
Examples:
Replace long-duration paddy with millets, pulses, or maize in water-stressed blocks.
Prefer pigeon pea, moth bean, cowpea, or green gram in dry regions.
Choose early-maturing cotton or oilseed varieties where irrigation is uncertain.
State crop contingency plans, updated annually, should guide these decisions.
Conserve Every Drop Through Soil Moisture Management
Soil is the farm’s first water reservoir. Managing it properly can extend crop survival by weeks during dry spells.
Proven practices:
Mulching with crop residue, straw, or plastic sheets to reduce evaporation.
Minimum or zero tillage to maintain soil structure and moisture.
Contour farming and bunding on slopes to slow runoff.
Intercropping to reduce bare soil exposure.
Fields with organic matter above 0.75% consistently retain more moisture and show lower drought damage.
Use Water More Efficiently, Not More Frequently
Drought management is about precision irrigation, not emergency flooding.
Best practices today:
Shift from flood irrigation to drip or sprinkler systems where feasible.
Irrigate during early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation losses.
Follow critical stage irrigation—watering only during yield-sensitive growth stages.
Government subsidies under micro-irrigation schemes are currently active in most states, especially for small and marginal farmers.
Strengthen Rainwater Harvesting and Local Storage
With erratic rainfall, capturing short rain events has become essential.
Effective on-farm structures include:
Farm ponds and dug-out tanks.
Recharge pits near borewells.
Field channels that divert excess rain to storage.
Even a small farm pond can provide lifesaving irrigation during a 10–15 day dry spell, particularly for vegetables and horticulture crops.
Protect Livestock and Fodder Supply
Drought impacts are not limited to crops. Livestock losses can permanently weaken farm income.
Immediate measures:
Grow drought-tolerant fodder crops like sorghum, bajra, and stylo.
Preserve fodder as silage or hay during brief green periods.
Use crop residues efficiently instead of burning them.
District administrations often activate fodder depots and cattle camps during drought alerts—farmers should monitor local advisories closely.
Reduce Financial Risk Through Institutional Support
Drought management is incomplete without financial safeguards.
Key steps farmers should take:
Ensure enrollment in crop insurance schemes before sowing.
Report crop stress early through local agriculture offices.
Access input support and contingency seed distribution during declared drought years.
Farmers who align crop decisions with official advisories face fewer claim disputes and faster relief processing.
Adopt Climate-Resilient Practices Long Term
Recurring drought demands structural change, not seasonal fixes.
Long-term priorities:
Diversify income through mixed farming and agroforestry.
Improve soil health using compost, green manuring, and bio-inputs.
Reduce dependency on a single water source or crop.
Regions that have adopted millet-based systems and integrated water management show consistently lower drought losses over time.
Conclusion
Drought in Indian agriculture is no longer an exception—it is part of the operating environment. Managing it effectively requires early planning, disciplined water use, soil-focused practices, and informed crop choices. Farmers who respond proactively, rather than reactively, protect both yield and income. The solutions are practical, available, and increasingly necessary. The priority now is implementation at the field level, before water stress turns into irreversible loss.
