Imagine that your state received less than normal monsoon rains for two consecutive years. Which items are likely to disappear from your meals, or are likely to become difficult to access?
Items likely to disappear or become scarce during consecutive drought years include:
Water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane would become scarce as they require large amounts of water.
Vegetables that need regular irrigation would become expensive or unavailable.
Fruits requiring substantial water would reduce in supply.
Dairy products might become scarce as cattle feed production decreases.
Pulses might become expensive as they are often rain-fed.
The chapter explains that "farmers who are dependent on rainfall face numerous challenges, including droughts and unpredictable monsoons" (Page 15-16). Kharif crops are "dependent on the timely arrival of the monsoons" and "excessive rainfall also leads to the destruction of crops" (Page 9).
Consecutive drought years would severely impact food availability and prices, affecting the poorest farmers most severely.
Explanation
This activity relates to the chapter's discussion of rain-fed agriculture (Page 15-16) and the dependence of kharif crops on monsoons (Page 7-9). Students should understand the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to monsoon variability and the cascading effects on food security.
Solution Steps
Water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane would become scarce due to high water requirements
Vegetables needing regular irrigation would become expensive or unavailable
Fruits requiring substantial water would reduce in supply
Dairy products might become scarce as cattle feed production decreases
Pulses might become expensive as they are often rain-fed crops
Farmers dependent on rainfall face challenges from droughts and unpredictable monsoons
Kharif crops are dependent on timely arrival of monsoons
Consecutive drought years severely impact food availability and prices, affecting poorest farmers most