Drought: Case Studies

Impacts of the California drought

1. price of fruit and vegetables rose by 6% as yield decreased

2. Better grape harvest led to better tasting wine

3. 17, 100 farmers lost their jobs

4. Increased rural-urban migration

5. more than 12 wildfires in may destroyed habitats

6. young salmon could not breed meaning rivers were closed to fishing

Impacts of drought in Namibia

1. school days reduced to 3 hours

2. 190,000 children and 200,000 women at risk of malnutrition

3. 70% loss in crop production

4. 6,500 animals die

5. 14.4m hectares of bush die due to lack of water

Impacts of the California drought

1. price of fruit and vegetables rose by 6% as yield decreased

2. Better grape harvest led to better tasting wine

3. 17, 100 farmers lost their jobs

4. Increased rural-urban migration

5. more than 12 wildfires in may destroyed habitats

6. young salmon could not breed meaning rivers were closed to fishing

Impacts of drought in Namibia

1. school days reduced to 3 hours

2. 190,000 children and 200,000 women at risk of malnutrition

3. 70% loss in crop production

4. 6,500 animals die

5. 14.4m hectares of bush die due to lack of water

Response to California drought

1. 25% increase in farmers buying groundwater pumps

2. Pledge 20 encourage people to reduce water usage by 20%

3. ‘save the bay’ encourage people to fix leaks and use water resistant plants

4. Governor Brown provide $25m for food and $21 for farmers

5. laws forbid restaurants to put water on tables

Response to namibia drought

1. farmers lay plastic bags on crops to reduce evaporation and prevent soil erosion

2. Red Cross provided drought resistant seeds to 4000 farmers and help 55,000 people access drinking water

3. UNICEF raise $5.4m to reach children suffering malnourishment

4. President declared state of emergency and requested $33m in aids- only $14m was raised