ABSTRACT
Basic drought mitigation practices have involved policy or institutional, physical, technological, and socioeconomic actions. Apart from individual efforts, community, regional, and national-based efforts are common and are often in larger-scale applications than the individual efforts. This chapter is based on the expository review of existing studies and documentations. Studies have indicated that water management practices in developing countries are fraught with the challenges of increased population pressure on land and water resources, poor education and poor awareness of drought mitigating principles, poverty, limited government intervention, and limited community-based actions. The National Drought Management Plans and the documented provisions on best practices for drought management appear to be well thought and can be useful if implemented across drought-prone areas. The chapter provides insights into various practices across the world and concludes that although the level of the implementation of drought mitigating plans varies, many people in developing countries are still severely affected by drought. It is recommended that efforts should be geared toward institutionalizing local drought management practices that have been found effective among communities. Incentives for scientific research on early drought warning system and enhanced coping systems among the poor people are also recommended.
