New Delhi, Dec 25: In the face of one of the worst droughts that hit the country, a panel of experts has suggested framing of a national drought management code consisting of inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional programmes in areas of vital concern to food security and agricultural progress.
The steering committee for the tenth plan in agriculture, chaired by eminent scientist m S Swaminathan, has recommended developing a public policy package in the form of a drought management code involving regulation through appropriate legislation, education and social mobilisation through local level democratic institutions like panchayats apart from technological measures.
Taking note of immense water shortage, the committee said that the activities related to augmentation of water supply should be intensified through steps like rainwater harvesting, watershed management and ground water recharge.
Steps should also be taken to implement the national water policy and the conjunctive and economic use of available water resources, it said.

The efficiency of managing demand for water should be maximised through a mix of incentives and disincentives, the committee said adding a water literacy and capacity building movement should be launched to make conservation and sustainable and equitable use of water resources everybody's business.
Stressing the role of weather forecasting, the committee said national capacity in weather forecasting should be enhanced and weather predictions should be proactively used in safeguarding crops, farm animal and livelihood security and should be user-oriented. Bureau Report