The Thar Desert region of Rajasthan in Northwest India is one of the most difficult climatic zones and yet is the most densely populated desert eco-system in the world. Thar Desert is the most significantly impacted region of the country with extremely limited annual rainfall (up to 200 mm in a year) leaving the region water-deprived, arid and under-developed. Severe water shortages for human consumption, for livestock, and for agricultural production aggravate poverty and malnutrition further. For the penurious rural communities in Thar, dependence on rain-fed agriculture and allied activities for livelihood, food and nutrition security and water for personal and household use are turning out to be even more challenging in the wake of climate change with unpredictable and shifting patterns of rains and weather.

Climate change may manifest in many forms in different areas, however, in the Thar Desert region, it has resulted in increased occurrence of droughts and consequent food and water insecurity, malnutrition and poverty. Over a very long period of time, Thar Desert and frequently occurring droughts have had a close association. In fact, in Rajasthan, there have been 48 drought years of varied intensity between 1901 and 2003. Thar Desert is the most significantly impacted region of the country with extremely limited annual rainfall (up to 200 mm in a year) leaving the region water-deprived, arid and under-developed. Impacted by chronic droughts and severe food, water shortages, Thar is considered to be one of the least developed regions in the world. While drought has been a part of life for an unknown period, the climate change related impacts have made the conditions particularly worse in recent years.