What climate adaptation strategies can farmers use to mitigate drought risk and ensure stable yields?

• A. Plant drought-tolerant varieties.
• B. Adopt soil moisture conservation, mulching, efficient irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and crop diversification.
• C. Rely exclusively on rainfall without any irrigation.
• D. Grow only a single water-intensive crop.

Answer: (B)

When drought risk is high, the best approach is to combine water-saving practices with strategies that spread risk across crops. Drought-tolerant varieties help, but they don’t guarantee stable yields without managing water and soil. Mulching and soil moisture conservation reduce evaporation and keep the root zone moister for longer, which supports steady growth. Efficient irrigation targets water where it’s needed and minimizes waste, boosting water-use efficiency. Rainwater harvesting creates an additional water source during dry spells, helping bridge gaps between rainfall events. Crop diversification, such as intercropping or rotating with drought-resilient crops, reduces the impact of a poor year for any single crop and stabilizes overall production. Relying on rainfall alone or growing only one water-intensive crop increases vulnerability to drought. Putting these practices together builds a resilient system that can maintain yields under variable moisture conditions.