1. Rainfed dryland agriculture in India: An overview

Transcript

Hi! Friends I welcome you for this course that is “Resource Management in Rainfed Drylands” , and as part of the course we will be beginning the lecture with Rainfed Dryland agriculture in India, an overview. So the rainfed drylands of areas with less than 800 mm of annual rainfall, where the crop production depends entirely on rainwater. So these are the areas, where in the regions of rainfall below 800 millimeters, where the crop production is entirely dependent on rainwater. And the important natural resources that support the production system in drylands are soil, water and vegetation. So the natural resources factor supporting these rainfed drylands in the regions less than 800 millimeter of rainfall are soil, vegetation and water. So these are the three most important resources. And these three resources are being improperly used or misused over the years, and making these lands unproductive.

Then this word ‘rainfed drylands’ is synonymous with the three terminologies; dry farming, dryland farming and rainfed farming. Although this term is synonymous with these three systems, all the three systems exclude the irrigation. Coming to the dry farming, the cultivation of crops in regions with annual rainfall less than 750mm. Dry farming is practiced where the cultivation of the crops will be in the regions where the rainfall is less than 750 millimeter of rainfall. And here the crop failure is frequent because of the presence of prolonged dry spell, and the moisture availability period or the growing period for the crops will be less than 75 days. And here the moisture conservation practices are very important.

Then coming to the second system. Dry farming. Here the cultivation of crops in regions with annual rainfall more than 750 millimeter. So dryland farming, here the crops will be cultivated in a region where the rainfall is more than 750 millimeter. Here the crop failure will be less frequent in spite of the presence of prolonged dry spells. And here the moisture availability period is between 75 to 120 days. And here also moisture conservation practices are very important. Then coming to the Rainfed farming. Here the cultivation of crops in regions, where the rainfall is more than 1150 millimeter. And here the crops are not subjected to moisture stress during the crop growth period. And here the moisture availability periods will be more than 120 days. And here the most important aspect is providing drainage for the removal of excess water is an important aspect.

Then coming to the status. The current land use in India. • The geographical area is around 328.78 million hectares, • Among which the net sown area is 142 million hectares. • The net irrigated area is 68 million hectares • The net unirrigated area is 73 million hectares.

So if you see the status or the statistical numbers. Even after the utilization of all our water resources for irrigation, about half of the cultivated area will remain rainfed. We are very progressing very little with the development of irrigation potential irrigated area. And even if we achieve the fullest potential, the 50% of the area will remain under rainfed conditions. Coming to the distribution of landholdings as per the 2015-16 agricultural census. The total number of holdings are around 146 million. Then average size of the farmland 1.08 hectares, and this has been brought down from the 1.15 hectares during 2010-11 census, and it has been now 1.08 hectares. Then small and marginal farmers who have less than 1 hectare area are around 125 million. Then medium farmers around 19.3 million, and large farmers around 0.83 million. The very important fact is that from the last census during 2010-11 to now 2015-16, there is a marginal increase of small and marginal areas. So there is an above 7.34% increase in small and marginal farmers. So with the land holdings getting smaller. The share of small and marginal farmers to the total is comes to around 86.21 %. So small and marginal farmers, who are really the dryland farmers. That means to say that the proportion of dryland farmers is increasing year by year. And one indication says that at during year 2030, the contribution of rainfed farmers; that is small and marginal farmers may reach to around 91%.

Then coming to the importance of dryland agriculture. It contributes 44% of the food supplies, supports 40% of the population, supports 2 out of 3 cattle, then 90% of the coarse cereals, 91% of the pulses and 67% cotton is grown on dryland areas. Even the rice, 50% area and wheat 19%. That means 50% of the rice area and 19% of the wheat area is also grown on rainfed drylands. It is not the mention that nothing has been done after knowing the importance; nothing has been done with respect to dryland research in India, right from 1923 efforts were made to establish research stations at Manjri, then Bijapur and Sholapur, then at Hagari and Raichur in Deccan Plateau. Then the research station at Rohtak in Haryana in the northern area. Then during the 1970, All India Coordinated Research Projects on dryland agriculture were established, under which 23 research stations were established. And in the during the 1985, Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture was established at Hyderabad. These research projects have generated a technology, if it they were adopted, they will result in substantial production, productivity and stability of dryland crops.

Then coming to the conclusion. The rainfed agriculture would have to be revisited. Then there is a need for greening of grey areas and for a second green revolution. The small farmers are the main providers of food and nutrition security in the nation and lastly dryland farming will be the most important subject in future to combat poverty and ensure food security.

Thank You.