HYDERABAD: A World Bank-sponsored study on "vulnerability and adaptation to drought," in Andhra Pradesh has suggested a shift from water- guzzling crop like paddy to less water intensive crops in drought-prone districts.

The findings and recommendations were released at a workshop on the study organised by the Andhra Pradesh Environment Programme in collaboration with the Bank and Environment Forests and Science and Technology Department here on Tuesday.

Eco-friendly option

The study says if a "reallocation of irrigation" is put into practice in critical times from paddy to less water intensive crops, the long-term farm production could increase by a third and halve the losses in drought years. The longer-term impact of human-induced climate change also reinforces the case for this shift.

An "agro-meteorological model" assessed the scenarios of permanently reducing the paddy area and using "freed water" for irrigating crops consuming less water in Anantapur and Mahbubnagar. In Anantapur, the strategy was able to reduce by half the average annual loss of overall crop production value. It was less effective in Mahbubnagar as area under paddy was already small.

Surprisingly the study found that the impact of drought on the overall state economy measured in Gross Value Added (GVA) terms was "marginal and declining."

The Annual Average Loss (AAL) in GVA for the State due to drought event is less than one percent even under the "business as usual" scenario. The key reason for this positive outcome was the structural changes in the State economy. While there was negative impact of drought on the agricultural sector, it was to a limited extent on livestock and secondary sectors. The impact was positive on the tertiary sector. But the loss of employment during drought (estimated at 44 lakhs in the drought year of 2002-03) remains an area of concern.

Kanda's call

Mohan Kanda, Chief Secretary, who inaugurated the workshop said the response to tackle drought needs to be "contemporary and robust," infusing discipline in agriculture. Tishya Chatterjee, Principal Secretary, Environment and Forests, said a pilot project would be launched based on the findings. Benmennaoud, representative of the World Bank, said the objective of the study was to assess the long-term impact of drought and raise resilience at different levels to drought risks.

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