Adaptive Management in Water Management of Arid Zone in India Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time.

Of most concern in the anthropogenic factors is the increase in CO2 levels due to emissions from fossil fuel combustion, followed by aerosols (particulate matter in the atmosphere) and cement manufacture. Other factors, including land use, ozone depletion, animal agriculture and deforestation, are also of concern in the roles they play - both separately and in conjunction with other factors - in affecting climate, microclimate, and measures of climate variables. Change in climate variable is leading to conditions such as droughts and floods which affects the lifestyle of the people residing on that particular region. The most affected things are livelihood options , houses in case of extreme condition like flood, assets such as household things. In India arid regions are concentrated to north west part of the country and covers entire state of Rajasthan and few parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. This part shares similar kind of climatic condition that can be defined as scanty and erratic rainfall , high air and soil temperature , intense solar radiation and high wind velocity. Context-specific interactions of these factors not only give rise to frequent droughts and famines, they also make local livelihoods highly vulnerable. Rajasthan has the maximum probability of occurrence of drought in India according to Ahluwalia M. The vulnerability associated with droughts are as follows Depletion in water resources for agriculture and drinking : women walk 1-2 kms to fetch water Reduction in crop yields and change in cropping pattern Dwindling fodder stock and declining income of farmers lead cattle selling; esp. marginal and small farmers who sell at depressed prices Increased incidences of debt: Decline in nutrition and health status: malnutrition strikes (esp. among children and women) whenever drought occurs.

Adaptation to climate change is inevitable Climate change long term & impacts may be irreversible Long gestation period required for adaptation (such as developing drought resistant varieties) Infrastructure lifetimes are long and are at risk Long time scales required for institutional arrangements to be in place for combating impacts of CC (national to village level)

Some Examples of Science-Based Policy Options (i) Using integrated and forward-looking analysis.

(ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii)

Monitoring key performance indicators to trigger built-in policy Adjustments. Undertaking formal policy review and continuous learning: Using multi-stakeholder deliberation Enabling self-organization and social networking: Decentralizing decisionmaking to the lowest and most effective jurisdictional level Promoting variation in policy responses

Government Institutions and policies to combat droughts y y y y y y y y Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) Rural Works Programme Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) - labor intensive schemes such as medium and minor irrigation, road construction, soil conservation and afforest action Dissemination of technologies relating to soil management, water harvesting, improved agronomic practices and drought-resistant crops - CRIDA Desert Development Programme (DDP) Integrated Watershed Management Programme rejuvenate depleted natural resources on watershed basis National Watershed Program for Rainfed Areas (NWSDPRA) around 22 mha MGNREGA and other social welfare schemes

Traditional coping strategies in response to drought Physical capital is built: use of structures like  Paar system  Talab/ Bandhis  Saza Kuva  Johad  Pat  Naada / Bandha  Rapat  Chandela Tank  Bundela Tank  Kunds / Kundis  Kuis /Beris  Baoris / Bers  Jhalaras  Nadis  Tobas Natural Capital : Bishnoi community,forestation Household/Community Migration (15-30%)

Sale of assets (land, livestock, durable assets) Reduce intake of food and decline in other expenditure Shift from superior to inferior food grain Mixed cropping

State/Government Social Sharing and cooperation Sacrifice by senior hh members New Community relationships Food distribution system Water supply (tanker, new wells etc) Employment programs Economic Borrowing Imports/assistance Diversification in source of income

Inter and intra community exchange programs -

Subsidy/grants

Relief works

Modern coping strategies: Farming techniques to retain productivity during droughts Soil & water conservation practices Farm Pond : enables storing runoff water Planting drought resistant varieties: provided by the state Agriculture Univ. low adaptability of the above

Livelihood: Education & skill based diversification of occupation

Livestock: ownership pattern changed from few people owning bigger herd size to almost all hh owning few small animals Govt. efforts: area specific development programs initiated for drought prone areas to mitigate poverty