This study finds that in the Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh, tanks were a precarious source of irrigation, even at the peak of their use. Hence, with the use of electricity supply and reduction in the cost of groundwater extraction technology, farmers moved to groundwater irrigation. Along with a rise in groundwater irrigation, however, a steady decline in tank irrigated area was witnessed.

This book encompasses the characterisation of meteorological drought by the newly invented index called “SPI – Standardised Precipitation index” approved by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in June 2011. It is a simple index with precipitation as the only parameter and can be computed for different scales (1-3-6-12-24 months) and compared across regions with different climatic zones. The author has depicted graphs with regard to trends, onset, end, magnitude with dates of occurrence of droughts over a period of 102 years with regard to rainfall and temperature with the aid of SPI and SPEI, for Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, India. To characterise the agricultural drought, climatological water balance was carried for a period of 30 years for the data. In this book a composite index called “Indian drought monitor” with ten indicators and indices has been developed for releasing drought information weekly considering and incorporating review from a group of climatologists, extension agents and others across the nation. This will lead the country economically forward.

This is the first book to provide vital information on key local ecosystems, their functions, state of health, and their role in development in an Asian context, particularly on the Indian subcontinent. It addresses six major ecosystems on the Indian subcontinent – mountain, rural, desert, forest, urban, and freshwater – and discusses their functions, how they support livelihoods and the economy, the impacts on ecosystem services, and management issues. Asia is home to nearly one third of the global population. With massive industrialization occurring at an increasing pace to support the lifestyles of a growing population, impacts on natural ecosystems are inevitable in this region. The book also explores the concepts, theory and practice regarding these key ecosystems by linking them with the livelihoods of a large population base and subsequently illustrating their importance for sustainable development in the region. Further, by suggesting policies and ways in which these systems can be maintained and enhanced, it facilitates better management of natural resources within the ecological constraints to achieve socio-economic objectives and move towards a green economy for sustainable and equitable development in the region.