Rainfed Farming Systems

While a good grasp of the many separate aspects of agriculture is important, it is equally essential for all those involved in agriculture to understand the functioning of the farming system as a whole and how it can be best managed. It is necessary to re-assess and understand rain-fed farming systems around the world and to find ways to improve the selection, design and operation of such systems for long term productivity, profitability and sustainability. The components of the system must operate together efficiently; yet many of the relationships and interactions are not clearly understood. Appreciation of these matters and how they are affected by external influences or inputs are important for decision making and for achieving desirable outcomes for the farm as a whole. This book analyses common rain-fed farming systems and defines the principles and practices important to their effective functioning and management.

This book, which contains 14 chapters, covers all aspects of rainfed agriculture, starting with its potential, current status, rainwater harvesting and supplementary irrigation, to policies, approaches, institutions for upscaling, and impacts of integrated water management programmes in rainfed areas.

The book makes an earnest attempt to include various issues related to Rainfed Agriculture viz. soil and water conservation, drought management strategies, rain water harvesting, crops and cropping system for dryland agriculture, conservation agriculture, climate- smart agriculture and watershed management as per the recommendation of fifth Dean's Committee of Indian Council of Agricultural Research has been presented. The subject matter is both narrative and critical. Illustrations have been added to make the subject matter more clear.

This book provides a comprehensive presentation of the realization of improved rainfed agriculture yield in semi-arid and dry land areas. The incentive of watershed programs is to increase the return on investment with over 20% for 65% of the projects that are currently underperforming. Besides techniques to improve the livelihood of the many small

Rainfed Agriculture Has A Distinct Place In Indian Agriculture, Occupying 68 Per Cent Of The Total Cultivated Area And Supporting 40 Per Cent Of Human And 60 Per Cent Of Livestock Population. Agriculture In Rainfed Areas Continues To Be A Gamble Because Farmers In The Rainfed Region Face Many Uncertainties. In The Light Of Growing Population And Demand To Increase The Food Production Especially In The Developing Countries With Arid And Csemi-Arid Climate, This Book Mainly Focuses On The Land Use Diversification Involving Multi-Disciplinary Approaches For Sustainability In The Rainfed Regions.The Present Book Consists Of Twenty-Three Articles In All By Experts From Various Central & State Government Organisations, Agricultural Universities And Research Organisations Concerned With Rainfed Agriculture. These Articles, Covering Various Aspects Of Land Use Diversification For Sustainable Rainfed Agriculture, Have Been Arranged Into Five Sections: (A) Diversification: Need Of The Hour, (B) Natural Resources Dynamics, (C) Alternate Land Uses, (D) Case Studies, And (E) Capacity Building. Each Of The Articles Is Highly Informative And It Is Hoped That This Book Will Give An Interesting Insight Into The Varied Rainfed Agriculture Related Problems In India. It Highlights The Possible Measures Sustainable Management Of Land And Water Resources, Land Use Diversification, Alternate Land Uses Based On Climate, Soil And Crop Suitability, Etc. That Would Help Increase The Cropland As Well As Crop And Fodder Production In Rainfed Areas. The Present Book Enriched With Selected Case Studies Will Be Particularly Useful For Students, Teachers, Researchers And Scientists Working In The Area Of Rainfed Agriculture And Agricultural Planning For Sustainable Development.

This book discusses various issues related to Rainfed Agriculture, for example: Soil and water conservation. Drought management strategies. Rain-water harvesting. Crops and cropping system for dryland agriculture. Conservation agriculture. Climate-smart agriculture and watershed management. The subject matter is both narrative and critical, explained with illustrations and tables. Print and electronic editions not for sale in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bhutan).

It is supported by suitable examples and diagrams. The broad chapters included in the book are: Rainfed agriculture: Introduction, types, characteristics, distribution and importance; History of rainfed agriculture & watershed in India; Problems and prospects of rainfed agriculture in India; Soil and climatic conditions prevalent in rainfed areas; Drought: types, effect of water deficit on physio- morphological characteristics of the plants, Mechanism of crop adaptation under moisture deficit condition; Water harvesting: importance, its techniques, Efficient utilization of water through soil and crop management practices, Study of mulches and antitranspirants; Management of crops in rainfed areas; Contingent crop planning for aberrant weather conditions; Concept, objective, principles and components of watershed management, factors affecting watershed management; Integrated watershed development. The need for comprehensive information on rainfed farming relevant to undergraduate and postgraduate students of agriculture has been felt for quite some time. The advanced, diverse and need-based topics have been together for a systematic and comprehensive reading by the students and faculty in agriculture. The materials on subject matter is set forth in such a manner and order as to enable them to better understand and follow to a reasonable degree of uniformity and their approach to the problems of rainfed agriculture.

This book entitled Development of Rainfed Farming in Central India has 10 chapters viz. (1) Problems and prospects of Rainfed Farming, (2) Present status and strategy of Rainfed Farming Development, (3) Land and water resources, (4) Technology for watershed based Rainfed Farming Development, (5) Land and water management practices, (6) Improvement of productivity of rain water, (7) Cropping systems and crop management practices, (8) Planning for aberrant weather conditions and drought management, (9) Farm machinery and implements and (10) Integrated farming systems for livelihood security. In support of various statements made in different chapters, reliable data have been presented in 62 tables. Further, the book is well illustrated through 24 figures and sketches. The book will serve as a text book for Watershed management, Dry farming courses for B. Sc. Ag. students as a reference book of M.Sc. Ag. students of various Agricultural universities, as a manual for field workers of the Department of Agriculture, a good teaching media for teachers of Agricultural universities and a thought provoking material for those responsible for planning and executing development projects on rainfed/ dry farming and watershed management.