Geospatial Assessment of Agricultural Drought Vulnerability Using Integrated Three-Dimensional Model In The Upper Dwarakeshwar River Basin In West Bengal, India

It is essential to measure the degree of agricultural drought vulnerability in an underdeveloped rain-fed agro-based economy at the local, regional, and national level. Agricultural drought has become a major concern in respect to the global food crisis for investigation and development of a sustainable agricultural system that sustains the food security of a country. In this research, delineation of the agricultural drought vulnerability (ADV) status has been carried out by multidimensional mixed-method index approach using remote sensing and geographic information system. An integrated three-dimensional model has been adopted for this study. The three indices of this model are - Exposure Index (EI), Sensitivity Index (SI) and Adaptive Capacity Index (ACI). Exposure Index has been calculated using NDDI, LULC, ADI, DF, ADD and PI. Sensitivity Index has been calculated using satellite-based remote sensing factor VHI, NDWI, EVI, NDVI, VCI, NDWI, LST, and TCI. The ACI has been formed by combining the Environmental Adaptive Capacity (EAC), Social Adaptive Capacity (SAC) and Economical Adaptive Capacity (EcAC) Index. Each index has been computed by assigning the weights based on their relative importance by using the Analytic Hierarchy process (AHP) approach. Final results were classified into five vulnerability zones, e.g., very low, low, moderate, high, and very high covering an area 362.32 km2, 186.68 km2, 568.69 km2, 547.05 km2 and 266.89 km2 respectively. Finally, results have been validated with long term Aman paddy yield data (2004 to 2014) through the Yield Anomaly Index (YAI).