Drought and Coping Strategies: A Study of Marathwada Region of Maharashtra

Abstract

The Marathwada region of India experiences recurring droughts every year, resulting in disaster situations. However, the impact of the water crisis on rural communities and the existing support systems that enable resilience remain poorly understood. This study was conducted to understand the impact of frequent droughts in Osmanabad district. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 497 households in 20 villages. The findings show that the farmers have started animal husbandry and are growing water efficient crops. Poor households are selling their assets and are migrating to cities