for contrast , the soils of asian agriculture serve the u states and many other parts of the world , and india ' s irrigation systems have required that population to be self - sufficiently in food producer since 1974 . in sum , in many parts of the world dams have helped to remedy lives - threatening consequences such as poverty from neglect of economic progress , famine as a part of drought , havoc from cyclones , and continued disease from shortages of sanitation groundwater supplies .
Dam building prevents life-threatening situations.