Economic loss estimation under rainfall aberration in semi-arid tropics of India

The paper highlights a method for computation of economic loss in high and normal rainfall year vis-à-vis drought year (minimum loss), based on erosion soil loss value for the state of Maharashtra under existing cropping system and market scenario. The study indicated that total economic loss in semi-arid tropics (SAT) of Maharashtra is to the tune of 15791.67 million for high rainfall year, 1.81 times and 3.81 times higher than the normal and drought years, respectively. Rainfall aberration index (δc) computed from the economic loss (minimum erosion during the dry year as a denominator and the difference between economic loss from high rainfall or normal rainfall year from dry year as numerator), varied from 1.07 to 8.98 for high rainfall year. The region under soybean and cotton shows the lowest aberration index of 1.94 and 1.07, respectively whereas, the groundnut, pearl millet, sorghum and pigeon pea are relatively less friendly towards the conservation of soil resources in advent of rainfall aberrations. A linear mathematical model with economic coefficient of crops loss due to erosion has been formulated under SAT. The model may help in assessing the economic loss in aberrant rainfall years at macro scale and suggesting the prioritized conservation measures based on economic loss of production due to soil erosion.