Micro-level Drought Vulnerability Assessment in Peddavagu basin, a Tributary of Krishna River, Andhra Pradesh, India

Agriculture in India, or “gambling with monsoons,” as it’s often called, is dependent on such weather. A monsoon failure leads to droughts and the rural Indian farmers are the worst affected, making drought identification, monitoring and characterization at the village level crucial for drought proofing in rural areas. The Mahabubnagar region of Andhra Pradesh State, in South Central India, is prone to recurrent droughts and has frequently been in the news due to the suicide attempts of the farmers in this region. If droughts could be predicted, or at least monitored and assessed scientifically, attempts could be made to mitigate the ill effects and plan for ample food and drinking water. Other relief measures could help minimize the disastrous consequences of drought, thereby minimizing the plight of farmers. A study assessed the micro-level spatial drought vulnerability with the expectation this will assist in drought-coping measures in the region. Different thematic maps including rainfall, elevation, drainage density, soils and surface water area were integrated and analyzed using the weighted overlay analysis in GIS to derive the village level drought vulnerability map