Strange are the vagaries of nature. Sometimes, there is heavy and prolonged rainfall giving rise to floods and causing devastation on large scale. At other times, there are no rains or only seanty rains due to which crops get scorched and drought conditions prevail. Both the situations are unhealthy and cause numerous hardships for the common man in general and for the farmers in particular.
Famines and droughts are great natural calamities. The veiy word drought brings to our mind a picture of scarcity of water, food, fodder and unemployment. Thousands fail to get even one square meal a day. Many have to live on grass, on wild roots and leaves of trees. Not only this, there are several starvation deaths too, which is extremely horrifying. Cattle die due to lack of fodder. The wells and rivers go dry and as a result people travel long distances to get drinking water.
Drought is a perennial problem in many part of India. About 70% of the total cultivated area of the total country is drought prone if unfortunately monsoon rains fail or if they are less than normal drought conditions prevail in many parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu etc. Among these states Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh were the serverliest affected states during the last two years. In Rajasthan, 26 out of the 32 districts were severely hit. Barmer district had not seen rain since 1998, when it rained in just a few regions in Gujarat and elsewhere water riots were reported. In Orissa, 21 out of the 30 districts have been declared as drought affected with 13 being most severely affected.
Needless to say that agriculture in India is still backward ^d old-fashioned. As a result our farmers have to depend on rains for irrigation of their crops. No doubt there are some canals and tube-wells, but they are not at all sufficient consequently crops suffer in case there is low rain fall. This situation generates collective stress and serious disruption of activities in the country. Not only has this it retarded the development process of the society.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
If we look into the reasons of famines and droughts we come to know that due to the continuous increase in the population, trees are being cut on large scale. We must be aware of the fact that deforestation or cutting of trees out of all proportions, not only affects rainfall but also the rainwater runs faster into the rivers and the seas in the absence of trees. Hence, afforestation or planting of trees should be undertaken to conserve rain water and attract more rains. Small dams should be constructed to store water in sufficient quantities. Too much dependence on agriculture should also be avoided.
It is our misfortune that natural calamities like this have been occurring with regular periodicity in India. No doubt we have got spectacular achievements in the field of science and technology, yet we remain helpless in the face of floods, cyclones, droughts, earthquakes etc. However the Government does its best whenever there are such phenomena, but it is better if we lake pecautions in order to reduce their intensity and impact. So far drought is concerned; the only permanent solution to this problem lies in scientific farming.