Droughts and social economic impacts

Last week I explained the impacts of intensive rainfall events.  However, what about less frequent precipitation which will lead to an intensifications of droughts? In many semi-arid and arid regions temperatures are high and are expected to increase with climate change, leading to increased evapotranspiration rates.  In Sub-Saharan Africa, evapotranspiration is around 80% and droughts occur frequently (UNEP 2012).  Hence, groundwater is relied upon considerably compared to surface water, especially during drought periods.  A drought is defined as a prolonged period of abnormally low (or no) rainfall leading to water shortages, and the evapotranspiration rates are higher than the rainfall rates (Wilhite and Glantz 1985).  With an increase in global temperatures, it is expected that extreme events, such as droughts will occur more frequently, leading to social and economic problems.

Social and Economic Problems

Droughts may lead to disastrous impacts as seen in Ethiopia, during 2002-2003 and the Horn of Africa Drought in 2005-2006.  Hence, during droughts, food security diminishes, people are unable to grow food and riots may occur due to food shortages (Calow et al 2009).

In villages and towns of large populations groundwater is extensively overdrawn to meet people’s needs. Water availability becomes scarce, wells dry out and pumps may be unable to work efficiently.   Hence, hygiene levels decrease dramatically, causing diseases such as diarrheal.  Moreover, people queue for several hours to collect water from wells, until dark, endangering their safety. Girls are taken out of school to help carry water, declining female education, and emphasising a decrease in livelihood (Calow et al 2009). It is also important to acknowledge that the poor suffer more during droughts compared to the well-off.  The well-off have the capacity to hire labour to gather water for them, and collect enough water to sell to the poor, creating a large economic gap (Calow et al 2009).

 

Waiting to collect clean water
Source: Unicef 2007

Furthermore, a decrease in water availability will lead to an agricultural deficit. Not enough water will destroy crops, leading to food security and economic impacts (Fisher et al 2015).  Mass production of agricultural products such as maize and wheat may suffer large decreases, hence less crops will be sent to international markets, loosing a large amount of economic income towards the country. 

Solutions

Calow et al 2009 argue that droughts can be managed as they are considered an ‘extension and intensification of seasonal stress’. A sustainable use of water resources and an efficient availability of water to people’s homes will lead to a decrease in drought impacts.  This is evident when comparing developing countries with developed countries, which both endure droughts (Wilhite and Glantz 1985). Hence as Figure 1 suggests, the physical, social and economic impacts are all interlinked.

Figure 1: The connection between physical, social and economic impacts during droughts
Source: Wilhite and Glantz 1985

Fisher et al 2015 suggests the use of Drought Tolerant Maize for farmers as it is not dependent on high water levels.   The cultivation of crops that require low amounts of water may be beneficial for crop yields and reduce agricultural impacts significantly.

I feel that droughts are a great concern in Sub-Saharan Africa and measures must be taken to prevent drastic impacts, and avoid sanitary, agricultural and economical problems.  Droughts may also affect groundwater levels leading to salinity intrusion.  Follow me next week to assess salinity implications.