Investigating Drought in Herat Province and Ways to Combat It

Abstract

From ancient times, drought has been a part of environmental climate changes. Water scarcity, mismanagement, and improper use of groundwater resources, along with uncontrolled surface water sources, have posed serious and noticeable threats in Afghanistan, particularly in Herat province. Herat is one of the provinces in Afghanistan severely affected by this issue. Improper management of surface waters has led farmers to excessively utilize groundwater resources in recent years, significantly reducing the water tables in this province. Severe reductions in rainfall, excessive agricultural water usage, and uncontrolled digging of deep wells are among the major reasons for the drastic decline in groundwater levels, exacerbating drought conditions in this province. The concerns of Herat citizens are rising as the consumption of this province solely relies on groundwater sources. This situation could potentially lead to severe water shortages and increased drought in the future. On the other hand, a country like Afghanistan, which is among the world's dry regions, faces a serious threat to its environment and water resources. At present, even the northern regions of the country are under the influence of this phenomenon. The current precipitation status, limited water resources, and the country's climatic conditions underscore the need to plan for and seriously cope with the impacts and consequences of drought. Drought indicates various environmental effects on living organisms, animals, and humans. However, aridity is a general concept and is not used for environmental elements. Proper management practices and reducing the consequences of drought in the development of regions necessitate planning and implementing preventive measures to combat this phenomenon. This, in turn, requires sufficient knowledge in drought prediction.