Haryana state is considered the breadbasket of India, along with the
Punjab state. The effects of drought (and mitigation of those effects) are
therefore of considerable importance for the state. This article considers the
state’s drought “profile” through a study of six drought years in Haryana.
The main problems with agricultural drought in this region
are erratic rainfall; poor soil fertility; and limited, poor-quality irrigation
water. Image 1. shows rainfall amounts and crops cultivated in the droughtprone
districts of Haryana. Invariably, bajra, jowar, and maize crops are
grown in the drought-prone districts in the monsoon season, whereas wheat,
barley, mustard, and gram are grown with irrigation during the winter season.
These winter-season crops are called rabi crops.