Kesharwani et al. (2026) Climate extremes in agriculture: Managing drought and flood challenges

Identification

• Journal: Elsevier eBooks
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Siddhi Kesharwani, A. K. Singh
• DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-44625-2.00003-5

Research Groups

• IGSTC, Bonn, Germany (Siddhi Kesharwani)
• Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India (Abhishek Singh)

Short Summary

This chapter proposes an integrated "drought-first, flood-aware" water management framework to stabilize water supply, reduce disaster losses, and enhance equitable livelihoods by converting flood surpluses into reserves, demonstrating improved drought reliability and reduced flood damages through integrated measures.

Objective

• To develop an integrated "drought-first, flood-aware" water management framework that stabilizes water supply, reduces disaster losses, strengthens equitable livelihoods across rural and urban settings, and translates episodic flood surpluses into dependable reserves while safeguarding ecological flows and public health.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Conceptual framework applicable across diverse rural and urban settings globally.
• Temporal Scale: Focus on managing inter-annual and intra-annual hydrologic variability, addressing both episodic flood surpluses and dry periods under increasingly volatile hydroclimates.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Synthesis of established hydrologic tools, runoff estimation, reservoir routing, channel capacity analysis, operational rule curves, hedging strategies, and nature-based measures (e.g., check dams, infiltration basins, managed aquifer recharge, multipurpose reservoir operations, decentralized energy-water systems).
• Data sources: Synthesis of existing case evidence and established hydrologic principles.

Main Results

• Integrated measures significantly increased drought reliability through improved groundwater banking, irrigation efficiency, and demand management.
• Flood damages were reduced via floodplain restoration, adaptive releases, and safe conveyance.
• Performance gains were contingent on routine operation and maintenance, locally anchored technical capacity, transparent allocation rules, and inclusive community engagement.
• Equity screening enhanced benefits targeting and mitigated disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations during deficits and inundation.
• The proposed coordinated program, centered on conservation, reuse, recharge, and dependable upkeep, effectively converts hydrologic variability into managed supply, bridging the gap between scarcity and excess.

Contributions

• Proposes a novel "drought-first, flood-aware" integrated water management framework that addresses coupled drought and flood risks.
• Synthesizes diverse hydrologic tools, operational strategies, and nature-based solutions into a coherent framework for durable water security.
• Emphasizes the critical role of governance, routine operation and maintenance, local technical capacity, and inclusive community engagement for successful implementation.
• Provides a practical pathway for converting hydrologic variability into managed supply, enhancing water security and safeguarding production and ecosystems under volatile hydroclimates.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Kesharwani2026Climate,
  author = {Kesharwani, Siddhi and Singh, A. K.},
  title = {Climate extremes in agriculture: Managing drought and flood challenges},
  journal = {Elsevier eBooks},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/b978-0-443-44625-2.00003-5},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-44625-2.00003-5}
}