Brief note on Mitigation Strategies after disaster

The commonly adopted mitigation strategies are as follows:

i. Check dams to store water.

ii. Watershed management.

iii. Water-rationing.

iv. Cattle management.

v. Proper selection of crop for drought affected areas.

vi. Leveling, soil conservation techniques.

vii. Reducing deforestation and firewood cutting in the affected area.

viii. Checking of migration and providing alternate employment for people in government sponsored relief schemes or village cooperatives and non-governmental programmes.

ix. Education and training to the people.

x. Participation in community programmes, e.g., pani-panchayat in Maharashtra, Sukhoimajri experiment in Punjab, and Anna Hazare’s work in Rale gaon Sidhi Village in District Ahmednagar of Maharashtra.

xi. Improvement in Agriculture through modifying cropping patterns and introducing drought-resistant vanities of crops.

xii. Management of Rangeland with improvement of grazing lands, improved grazing patterns, introduction of feed and protection of shrubs and trees.

xiii. Development of Water resource system with improved irrigation, development of improved storage facilities, protection of surface water from evaporation, and introduction of drip irrigation system.

xiv. Animal Husbandary activities pan help in mitigation with the use of improved and scientific methods, increasing outputs without destroying the echo-system.

xv. The first step in drought mitigation is to identify areas that are at risk. In this situation, historical records can be analysed. After the identification of vulnerable areas, priority zones should be established. Then comprehensive and integrated development programmes should be initiated.