Drought

Drought is a slow-onset natural hazard caused by prolonged rainfall deficits. It leads to severe water scarcity for ecosystems, agriculture and communities. Droughts develop gradually and can last for a few months or several years, typically longer than any other natural hazard, producing extensive impacts in the short, medium and long term.

Agriculture is among the most vulnerable sectors to drought, as it is highly dependent on water. Severe droughts can reduce crop yields and disrupt value chains, leading to food insecurity and considerable economic losses. Agriculture is the first sector affected when drought hits and is also the most affected, absorbing up to 80 percent of all direct impacts, with multiple effects on agricultural production, food security and rural livelihoods, leading to massive famines and large-scale migration. Drought, which occurs in nearly all regions, has affected more people worldwide in the last 40 years than any other natural hazard.

Prolonged droughts damage vegetation cover, accelerate land degradation, increase soil erosion and eventually reduce soil fertility. Climate change is exacerbating drought in many parts of the world, increasing its frequency, severity and duration.

With nearly 1.3 billion people relying on agriculture as their main source of income, drought puts livelihoods at risk, often halting and reversing gains in food security and poverty reduction, and hampering efforts to reach Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: No Poverty and SDG 2: Zero Hunger. 

FAO’s work on drought in agriculture

FAO supports Members in their shift to a proactive drought management approach, including:

• creating awareness among policymakers and decision-makers around the importance of drought risk management;
• developing guidelines and other technical tools to support countries in designing and implementing proactive drought management approaches, including National Drought Plans;
• developing capacities in drought policy through regional and country-level training, including engaging effectively in global drought processes and international policy fora;
• conducting field projects to directly support countries in implementing proactive drought management policies;
• building partnerships with specialized organizations and research centres, as well as with national and regional networks of institutions concerned with drought;
• analysing drought risks, assessing vulnerabilities and identifying entry points for integrated drought management;
• supporting resource mobilization and investment design; and
• hosting the Drought portal, a dedicated knowledge hub, offering resources methodologies and case studies to help countries reduce agricultural drought risks.

FAO’s programme on proactive drought risk management involves strong partnerships with specialized organizations and research centres, such as the Global Water Partnership (GWP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and UN-Water, as well as with several national research centres and regional networks concerned with drought issues.

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