community-based disaster risk management and the media media kit

chapter 3. useful information for the media
Water requirements may increase to double the normal intake for animals
during hot weather. Clean, fresh water is important. If animals do not
meet their water needs, they may refuse to eat, experience lowered
production, become sick or die. Water supplies also may become a
problem as the drought wears on. Wells and piping may be inadequate
if water demand increases dramatically; shallow wells and streams may
dry up. You may need to transport water.
• If animals are kept outside, provide shade during hot weather. Heat
from the sun is a major culprit in overstressed animals.
• Swine may sunburn during hot, sunny weather. Try to keep them out
of the sun.
• Turn cows outside at night to cool them and cool the barn. Since
animals cool themselves primarily through breathing, barns tend to
get warm and humid quickly.
• Maintain access to water. Provide automatic drinking cups so
animals can meet their requirements during hot weather. Keep water
containers clean.
Do’s and Don’ts for Drought Preparedness
Do
• Arrangement of reasonable buffer stock of food grain
and fodder
• Ensure supply of good drinking water in rural areas for
human and livestock in drought affected areas.
• Assess fodder requirements in drought affected areas
and locate areas where shortages are likely to occur
and arrange supplies from outside.
• Fodder cultivation to be encouraged wherever feasible
• Rejuvenation of traditional rainwater system, viz. rivers,
tanks, etc.
• Rainwater harvesting for both drinking and cropping
purposes
• Management of human and livestock population to
reduce pressure on fragile arid ecosystem
87