Monsoon Deficit and Water Stress in India

GS1: Important Geophysical phenomena and changes in critical geographical features


What is the issue?

  • Apparently, about 40% of the country is facing an acute paucity of pre-monsoon rain, causing severe water distress in scorching heat.

BACKGROUND

  • Rain fed agriculture contributes to 60 per cent of the value of agriculture GDP of India.
  • About 61 per cent of India’s farmers rely on rain-fed agriculture and 55 per cent of the gross cropped area is under rain-fed farming.
  • Rainfed crops account for 48 percent area under food crops and 68 percent under non-food crops.
  • India ranks first among the rainfed agricultural countries of the world in terms of both extent and value of produce.
  • Due to population pressure on agricultural lands, the poverty is concentrated in rainfed regions.
  • Despite all these, rain-fed areas contributed significantly to the country’s food production.
  • They account for 89 per cent of millets production, 88 per cent of pulses, 73 per cent of cotton, 69 per cent of oilseeds and 40 per cent rice production in the country.
Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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