In my community, an issue that has a direct impact on my life is the issue of drought. A region is said to be in a state of drought if it experiences an extended time of under rainfall, which leads to an inadequate supply of water (Tramblay et al. 1). It’s possible for droughts to endure for several months or even several years. They are capable of wreaking havoc not only on agricultural crops but also on wild animals and people. My community has been ravaged by the drought, and as a result, the cost of living has escalated to the point where it is impossible to locate a place to live that is still cheap. In recent years, drought has developed into a problem that is becoming increasingly widespread in many regions all over the world. We have witnessed firsthand the devastation that can be caused by drought in our town and have seen how it can spread to other areas. The effects of drought can be felt in a variety of ways, from insufficient water supplies to increased risk of wildfire. In this paper, we are going to talk about the problem of drought and the ways in which it has affected my life as a company owner and the community as a whole.
According to Tramblay et al, drought has limited the water available for businesses, which has increased costs and forced some businesses to close (4). Drought has had many impacts on businesses regarding increased costs and, in some cases, forced closures. The lack of water available due to drought has meant that businesses have had to purchase water from alternative sources, which has driven up costs. In addition, the lack of water has also forced some businesses to close, as they cannot operate without a reliable water supply. Drought conditions have had a significant impact on businesses, particularly in terms of increased costs (Tramblay et al. 7). While the long-term impacts of drought are often more severe, businesses must contend with the immediate impacts in the short-term as well.
Drought has adverse effects on the health and well-being of the people (Lester et al. 15). Air quality has decreased due to the increased dust and pollen in the air, which has forced businesses to invest in air filtration systems. Due to high temperatures, which have resulted in drying land, there has been an increase in dust and pollen in the air, leading to a decrease in air quality. This has forced businesses to invest in air filtration systems to protect their employees and customers. The air filtration systems trap the dust and pollen in the air, preventing it from being breathed in by people. This has helped to improve the air quality in businesses and has also helped to reduce the amount of dust and pollen in the air. This is a cost that my businesses must incur to protect their employees and customers from the harmful effects of dust and pollen.
Drought has caused a decline in the level of traffic. The drought has caused a decline in traffic as a result of the lower demand for products and services. As a result, businesses have been compelled to lay off staff as a result of the drought. The layoffs have caused drop-in traffic as people can no longer commute to work (Lester et al. 9). The decrease in traffic has also caused a decrease in the amount of money spent on gas and other transportation costs. This has led to a decrease in the amount of money circulating in the economy, which has a ripple effect on other businesses and industries.
According to Lester and others, as a result of lower market for commodities and service providers, businesses have been forced to default on their credit obligations, which has led to a decline in the value of the underlying real estate (Lester et al. 10). The decrease in demand has led to businesses reducing their prices to attract customers, which has led to a decrease in the property’s value. The businesses that have been forced to foreclose on their loans are those that are unable to pay back the money they owe, which has further decreased the value of the property (Lester et al. 10). The decrease in demand for goods and services has caused a decrease in the value of property because businesses are not making as much money as they were before. A drop in the value of the property has led to a decrease in the amount of money that individuals are prepared to pay for products and services, as a consequence of which there has been a decline in the demand for both commodities and services. Because of this, the property’s valuation has fallen as a direct consequence (Lester et al. 9).
The decline in demand for products and services has resulted in a corresponding reduction in tax collection. Because of this, firms have been obliged to reduce the scope of their operations which has led to fewer jobs and less money being circulated in the economy (Tramblay et al. 1). The decrease in tax revenue results from the decrease in economic activity. When businesses cut back on their operations, it leads to fewer jobs and less money being circulated in the economy, resulting in less tax revenue as fewer people are working and spending money.
The number of customer complaints has increased due to the increased prices and decreased quality of goods and services, forcing businesses to invest in customer service training despite facing the challenges brought about by drought. The number of customer complaints has increased due to the increased prices and decreased quality of goods and services, forcing businesses to invest in customer service training to improve the quality of their customer service. This, in turn, has improved the quality of the goods and services that businesses offer and has resulted in decreased customer complaints.
The main effect of drought on crops is a reduction in yield by reducing seed quality (El Sabagh et al. 3). Drought can also cause other problems, such as reduced quality, increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, and lower water-use efficiency. El Sabagh and others state that these factors can lead to reduced farm incomes and increased food prices (6). Reduced crop yields lead to higher prices for food and other products, which can pressure businesses that use agricultural products as inputs and lead to reduced demand for goods and services in rural areas. Drought can also lead to increased business costs, such as pumping water from deeper wells or transporting water over longer distances to sustain their agricultural produce and save the business’s life (Tramblay et al. 3).
Lester and others state that the issue of drought has caused a lot of out-migration. Drought conditions can lead to out-migration for a variety of reasons. People may leave an area searching for food or water or be forced to leave due to conflict or violence. Drought can also lead to economic hardship, as people cannot grow crops or access clean water (Lester et al. 10). Out-migration can also be a coping strategy for people struggling to adapt to changing climate conditions. As a result, businesses may see a decline in customers or workers as people leave the area in search of better conditions. In the long term, businesses may be forced to close due to the effects of climate change.
Drought conditions can lead to a decrease in the quality of education and training. Drought can cause a decrease in the amount of water available for school and training facilities, which can lead to a decrease in the quality of education and training. Additionally, this results in a reduction in the total number of working days that are available at the various training sites, which can lead to a decrease in the quality of education and training. Also, due to low incomes, people cannot pay the required fees for their children’s education (Lester et al. 12). As business people, we rely on trained and educated staff to run operations smoothly and profitably. Due to the lack of resources to educate the community, the business sector is deprived of employees since very few, or none, are qualified for the tasks required for employment.
The issue of drought can be prevented by working with stakeholders in the community to relay information and train the members of the population on how to utilize the available natural resources and use them to protect the land from climate change (Lester et al. 48). The community can also be trained on ways of rehabilitation to avoid deforestation and help balance climatic changes. Engagement in risk and vulnerability evaluations; formation of an implementation plan; analysis of response capability; identification of resources; organization of partnership agreements for action; and operating with civic leaders and municipal govt to notify and raise awareness within the community can help in drought prevention.
In conclusion, drought is a major issue that directly impacts my life as a business owner and community member. The drought has caused businesses to increase prices, foreclose on loans, and lay off employees. The issue of drought has also caused a decrease in the quality of education and training. The issue of drought can be prevented by working with stakeholders in the community to relay information and train the members of the population on how to utilize the available natural resources and use them to protect the land from climate change.
Works Cited
El Sabagh, A., et al. “Effects of drought stress on the quality of major oilseed crops: Implications and possible mitigation strategies—A review.” Appl. Ecol. Environ. Res 17.2 (2019): 4019-4043.
Lester, Leanne, Paul Flatau, and Michael Kyron. “Understanding the Social Impacts of Drought.” (2022).
Tramblay, Yves, et al. “Challenges for drought assessment in the Mediterranean region under future climate scenarios.” Earth-Science Reviews 210 (2020): 103348.