Drought – dried up tank THese percolation tanks (or tank bunds as they are also called) are built to collect rainwater (at the bottom of a watershed) and allow it to filter down and recharge groundwater.

Falling water tables Normal water level Normal water level Open wells are also old (more than 100 years…) water harvesting techniques. They are recharged by groundwater and rainwater. Irrigation from these is done through electric pumps. Traditionally by pulling up water in large leather bags through the power of bullocks.

Irrigation Coriander and sunflower

Rain-fed agriculture Sunflower can grow in rabi season under rainfed conditions on black cotton soil (not red soils) which keeps moisture from the late rains in november. Normally. But not this year.

Household Surveys

Larger farmer (22,5 acres) has rented a decorticator for his crop for two days (2000 rs rent). He usually gets 250 bags (of 42 kg) of groundnuts but this year got only 60, which is barely enough for next year’s seed.

Findings Farmer showing bajra and jowar seeds. Said they were much smaller than normal.

Price statistics -groundnut Andhra Pradesh data. Adjusted for consumer price index. Estimated based on Kadiri and Anantapur data for 97-98 and 98-99 (these reports were not in the library). Can see that real prices are falling even if supply is less due to drought (98-99, 00-01 and 01-02 were drought years). Reason being cheap imports of palm oil. Source: Season and crop reports 1989-2001, Andhra Pradesh