Causes, Effects and Management Mechanisms of Drought Crisis in Rural and Nomadic Communities in Southeastern Iran as Perceived by Agricultural/Rural Managers and Specialist

Abstract

Iranian rural and nomadic communities living in drought-prone marginal areas with subsistence economy, seem to be most vulnerable during the occurrence of drought crisis. Various communities have their own different approaches to manage risk and crisis, including drought and other natural disasters. In the past, however, traditional communities in dry lands typically managed and protected their resources communally using their own indigenous knowledge. Under the current situation, development of various mitigation mechanisms and crisis management systems have led to optimistic visions for controlling drought and revitalizing livelihood systems of rural and nomadic communities affected by drought. A survey research was conducted to identify and analyze the causes, impacts and management mechanisms of drought crisis in rural and nomadic communities in Southeastern Iran which have severely been affected by drought during the last decade. The sample of the study encompassed 220 managers and specialists of various rural and agricultural related governmental departments, who have been extensively participated in management and mitigation of drought crisis. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire which was validated by a panel of experts and the reliability index was established by Cronbach's coefficient. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Software. Major findings included: five components were extracted for the causes of drought vulnerability, including: socio-economic, livelihood, hydrological, agricultural, and metrological drought. Management mechanisms of drought crisis summarized in five factors, namely as: integrated water resources management, institutional capacity building, targeted supporting, systemic planning and sustainable development of agricultural and livelihood. Based on the findings and conclusions of this study, specific recommendations were made to reduce effects of drought crisis.