Technology for Stabilizing Agriculture Production in Rain Fed Areas - 1 | Agriculture Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

India achieved self-sufficiency in food grain production in the 2020-21 season with a total output of approximately 298.3 million tonnes. However, the country still imports around 25.5 million tonnes of pulses due to low agricultural productivity, particularly in rainfed farming areas that cover 58.5% of the cultivated land. Improving productivity in these rainfed regions is essential for India to become self-sustainable in food production, which can be accomplished through innovative agricultural technologies, such as soil and water conservation methods, alternative land use systems, integrated crop management, and drought management practices.

Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for 54.6% of India's population, contributing to 17.1% of the country's gross value added in 2017-18. India has a total geographical area of 328.7 million hectares, with 140.1 million hectares classified as the net sown area and 198.4 million hectares as the gross cultivated area. Out of this, 115 million hectares are rainfed, accounting for 60% of the gross cultivated area, while 83.4 million hectares are irrigated, making up 40% of the gross cultivated area. India holds a leading position among rainfed agricultural countries in terms of both extent and value of production.

The growing population in India presents a challenge in terms of food security, and to meet the demand, food grain production must surpass the current 284.83 million tonnes. However, a significant constraint to increasing productivity is the lack of irrigation facilities, which poses a challenge for the government, agricultural scientists, and farmers. Therefore, new agricultural practices and technologies should be sustainable, preserving natural resources and ensuring their availability for future generations.

By utilizing existing practices and technology, Indian farmers are currently able to produce 281.37 million tonnes of food grains, with 114 million tonnes coming from rainfed agriculture, feeding 44% of the population. There is still substantial potential for agricultural scientists to develop new technologies to increase food production. Nutrient-rich cereals, pulses, and oilseeds are predominantly grown in rainfed conditions, with 42.64 million tonnes of nutrient-rich cereals, 31.50 million tonnes of oilseeds, and 24.02 million tonnes of pulses produced in 2018. Given these statistics, it is plausible to enhance India's food production by implementing newly developed technologies and potentially doubling farmers' incomes by 2022.

Strategies for sustained food production in rainfed region

Enhancing crop production in rainfed agriculture hinges on effective rainwater management, land utilization, and crop management. To boost our country's overall food output, it's crucial to raise crop yields in rainfed regions, and this can be realized by implementing the strategies outlined below.

Soil and rainwater conservation techniques

Effective dryland farming necessitates the efficient preservation of rainwater and soil. The creation of contour bunds, graded bunds, and grassy waterways is crucial to prevent excessive runoff. The design and construction of these structures depend on factors like rainfall intensity, soil texture, and land slope. Employing appropriate watershed technologies such as constructing farm ponds and rainwater harvesting, as well as diverting excess runoff to create ponds, is essential. To reduce excessive evapotranspiration, practices like mulching, intercropping, and mixed cropping are obligatory.

Borewell recharge involves the idea of replenishing underground aquifers by allowing excess runoff water to seep into them, ensuring a sustainable underground water source for several years.

Timely sowing of crops and tillage practices

Maintaining appropriate soil moisture is crucial for ensuring successful germination and the establishment of crops. This can be accomplished through the adoption of proper tillage practices. Medium and shallow tillage are applied for activities like dust mulching, the incorporation of farmyard manure (FYM), and phosphate fertilizers. Deep tillage is particularly advantageous in alluvial and red soil regions as it enhances water absorption and retention capabilities. The use of seed cum fertilizer drillers is essential in rainfed farming, as it ensures the correct spacing between seeds and fertilizer placement, covers the seeds with soil, and situates them in a moisture-rich zone, promoting optimal germination and robust crop establishment.

Timely planting of crops is a valuable strategy for mitigating the impact of drought and minimizing the risk of pests, diseases, and drought-related issues. For instance, managing terminal drought can be achieved through early planting and the utilization of short-duration crop varieties like GPU-48, which completes its cropping cycle in just 95-100 days.

Adaptation of improved varieties

The adoption of drought-resistant crop varieties is a key factor in achieving consistent yields in rainfed agriculture. Farmers should be well-informed about the advantages of using drought-tolerant, high-yielding crop varieties. On the other hand, the cultivation of hybrids in rainfed farming is not economically viable because it demands significant nutrient and input resources for crop production and does not perform well under conditions of limited water availability.

Use of efficient crop and cropping system

Rainfed farming is best suited for climate-resilient crops like nutrient-rich cereals, which can thrive with approximately 300 mm of annual rainfall to achieve good yields. Adequate moisture during germination and one or two instances of life-saving irrigation or rainfall during seed setting are enough to ensure a bountiful harvest.

By implementing rainwater harvesting techniques, considering soil depth, and understanding rainfall patterns, it's possible to expand intensive cropping systems in large rainfed areas. For instance, if the annual rainfall exceeds 750 mm and there are more than 30 weeks of effective growing season, double cropping can be effectively practiced.