Lean Environmental Solutions

Guide · Georgia

Drought and water shortage

Dry spells hit eastern Georgia most summers, and drought becomes next winter's feed problem for animals.

Who and when

The east has dry spells most summers: Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli and Shida Kartli; wheat, vines, dairy and pasture. Months: June to September. The last big drought was in 2000.

Getting worse.

Right now

Right now (autumn 2026)

  • No 2026 drought report was found.
Before

Before: get ready

Crops and trees

  1. Walk your ditches and furrows in November while they are dry. Mark leaks and places where water pools. Clean them and line the worst parts in February to March.
  2. In December to January, plan next year's water: which plots get water first, and how much at each crop stage, not by habit.
  3. Water at night or in calm hours, not in wind. (general practice, check locally)
  4. Choose drought- and rust-tolerant seed in December to January.
  5. Spread straw or crop waste as mulch in spring, after the soil warms. Under trees, any time. (general practice, check locally)
  6. Plant windbreak rows in October to November or February to April.

Animals

  1. Now: count animals and do the feed sum. Animals × days until green grass × daily feed. Compare with hay in hand. Sell or buy now.
  2. Check and clean troughs, springs and pipes in October and April.

Money: state agro-insurance does not cover drought. The State Agro Co-financing Programme (since 1 Jul 2026) can pay up to 50% of a project, and water storage or irrigation can sit inside a project.

During

During: when it hits

  1. Keep drinking water for your family and animals first. Then water the crops that bring your income.
  2. Sell or slaughter animals early, while they are in good condition and prices are still good.
  3. Buy or secure fodder early.
  4. Watch tanks and troughs. Hot, still water can grow toxic blue-green algae. (general practice, check locally)
  5. Follow heat and irrigation warnings from the NEA.
After

After: recover

First days

  • Take dated photos of dry fields and lost crops.
  • Re-do the feed sum.

First weeks

  • Rest pastures before grazing them again. (general practice, check locally)
  • Dry soil washes away in the first heavy rain. Plant cover as soon as rain returns. (general practice, check locally)

Money and help

  • Record damage with photos that show date, time and place. Keep a note of plots, normal yields and every call you make.
  • Drought is not insured. No drought aid programme was found.
Build back better

Build back better

  1. Drip or sprinkler watering. A state programme for irrigated land ran in Shida Kartli and Kakheti in 2025.
  2. Keep a fodder reserve, and write down in advance when you will sell animals.
  3. Windbreak rows.
  4. A small pond or tank that fills in spring.

What the farm check looks for

Days of hay in the barn against the number of animals. Where water comes from, and how much is lost in earth ditches. Rainfed wheat in the east.

Get a free farm check

Sources