Drought Aggravates Poverty

Study shows during drought years in Rajasthan, the vulnerability of rural households to poverty increases.

- Purnamita Dasgupta And Smita Sirohi

NARRATIVES OF agrarian distress in economies that depend on agriculture to a great extent have unfortunately become familiar. India has 86 per cent small and marginal farmers, who own less than 2 hectares of farmland. More than 60 per cent of the country’s population depends on agriculture and allied activities for livelihood. Though there are multiple drivers of risk in such a situation, it has become apparent that the fate of Indian farmers is linked to the vagaries of nature. In particular, the occurrence of drought creates social and cultural disruptions across farming households, and brings about huge economic losses.