Pond-Based Water Resource Management in Response to Spatial-Temporal Rainfall Variability and Drought Vulnerability in Palakkad (India)

Agriculture in Palakkad known as the rice bowl of Kerala has been challenged by climate-induced intensive rain and drought. With increasing demand for food and climate change, sustainable water resource management has become important. Adopting the natural-based solution like ponds supports farmers' cultivation, making them resilient to the climate change impacts. This study aims to assess the spatiotemporal variability of rainfall and drought vulnerability in the Palakkad region, integrating existing ponds to formulate effective water management solutions. The goal is to identify areas requiring water storage interventions and determine how pond-based solutions can mitigate climate variability impacts. To achieve the goal: (1) this research analyses the rainfall patterns and variability in Palakkad by using daily rainfall data collected from 11 stations between 2018 and 2023. (2) Precipitation concentration index and standardized precipitation index are used to calculate rainfall variability and drought vulnerability in this region. (3) Assess pond locations and overlay them with rainfall/drought data to determine where additional water storage structures are required. These findings will provide data-based evidence and support for local farmers and policymakers in guiding sustainable and resilient water resource intervention in the region.