Drought vulnerability assessment: Solution for risk alleviation and drought management among Iranian farmers

Drought is a natural disaster that can influence all aspects of human life with its extensive and long-term implications. Rural communities are more drought-susceptible due to their more closeness to nature and agriculture-based economy. Careful assessment of the drought vulnerability of different areas is a prerequisite for drought management as risk management has replaced crisis management to enable farmers to cope with drought effects. The present study aimed to assess the drought vulnerability of wheat farmers in southeastern Iran. The main data collection instrument was a questionnaire designed based on Me-Bar and Valdez’s (2005) study, to which new parameters were added for a more accurate assessment of vulnerability. Using Krejcie and Morgan Table, the sample size was determined to be 395 wheat farmers selected from those living in southeastern Iran with different degrees of drought severity (severe, extremely severe, and critical). The results indicated that farmers were highly vulnerable to drought and strongly affected by economic, socio-cultural, psychological, technical-environmental, and infrastructural damages. In addition, the results revealed that farmers in Sirjan and Rudbar-e Jonubi counties were the most vulnerable. The general results concerning the vulnerability in southeastern Iran show that further drought aggravation increases the farmers' vulnerability because of higher vulnerability levels in regions with more critical conditions. In general, the results can provide new insights into drought management for policymakers.