An assessment of drought extent and impacts in agriculture sector in Pakistan.

摘要

Number of drought-induced natural disasters has grown significantly as a result of increasing vulnerability to extended periods of precipitation deficiency. Although drought affects virtually all climatic regimes and has significant consequences in both developed and developing countries, its impacts are especially serious in developing countries. The impacts of droughts on people, their domesticated animals, wildlife, rangelands and cropped lands have been shown to be astronomical. To reduce vulnerability to drought, it is essential to identify relevant impacts and assess their underlying causes. Recent drought events in Pakistan and the magnitude of drought losses indicated the continuing vulnerability of the country to drought. Drought is a common occurrence in Pakistan and agriculture is the primary economic sector affected. Pakistan witnessed crippled drought during 2000-2002. Overall agricultural growth turned negative for these two years. Agriculture sector had grown at an average rate of 4.5% per annum during the decade of the 1990s and growth was negative 2.47 and 0.07% during 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, respectively, while agriculture grew by 4.2% in 2002-2003 when drought was over and grew positively onward. The integration of existing drought monitoring tools is essential to reduce the impacts of drought and famine on society in this region.