Rain- fed agriculture -
Introduction-
Rain-dependent areas can be broadly split into two: ' dry lands' , which receive less than 750 mm of rain a year. and rainfed areas ,which receive more than 750 mm. Comprising arid and semi -arid ecosystems , dry lands stretch from Gujarat in the west till Eastern Madhya Pradesh ; and from Rajasthan till the southern tip of India.
In India , about 60% of the total net sown are comes under rain-fed in India . Rain-fed crops account for 48 percent are under food crops and 68 % under non-food crops.
India ranks first among the rain-fed agricultural countries of the world in terms of both extent and value of produce .Due to population pressure on agricultural lands , poverty is concentrated in rainfall regions. The climate in India's rainfed regions is characterized by complex climatic deficiencies , manifested as water scarcity for rainfed crop production. T he climate is largely semi-arid and dry sub-humid with a short ( occasionally intense) wet season followed by long dry season . Rainfall is highly unreliable , both in time and space , with strong risks of dry spells at critical growth stages even during good rainfall years . The fluctuations are due to numerous factors affecting the monsoonal climate including the atmospheric circulation and strong links to ENSO phenomenon in the pacific Ocean.
Characteristics and issues with Rainfed Agriculture-
Rain-fed areas in India are highly diverse , ranging from resource rich areas to resource - constrained areas. Some of the resource rich areas are highly production and have experienced widespread adoption of technology. However , most of the areas are resource constrained and dry areas.
IN the resource constrained and dry areas. the farming is a survival mechanism rather than a growth oriented activity.
Issues Related to Rain-fed Farming-
Farmer suicides in Rainfed areas-
In the past , the Rainfed farming system was mainly dependent upon the locally available inputs ( seeds , manures , animals draft) and used to grow a number of crops , which were able to withstand drought-like situations. However, in recent times , the cropping systems have changed and currently the farmers in these regions started cultivating high value crops which requires intensive use of costly inputs ( chemical fertilizers / pesticides , hybrid seeds , life saving irrigation , farm energy etc.) and find it difficult to manage the resource in their own. This is the major reason of growing farm suicides in rainfed areas.
Green Revolution -Rain-fed areas - Groundwater problem-
Green Revolution bypassed the less favored rainfed areas which were not the partner in this process of agriculture transformation. Green revolution was designed around growing high- yielding varieties of wheat and rice ,which needed plenty of water and chemical inputs.
Green Revolution - Rain-fed areas - change in the Cropping -
patterns-
To reduce their vulnerability to rains , farmers in some areas grew crops such as jowar or pules , these crops are low-yielding , but less affected by variations in rainfall. this saved the farmers from he risky nature if farming in rainfed and dry areas.
in the same field , they planted multiple crops . for instance , jowar or pulses , both drought - resistant , would be planted alongside wheat , which gave high yields in normal rains . they also maintained livestock or , if forests were in the vicinity , gathered minor forest produce.
this is the story of almost all parts of India. and that is the reason that cotton , maize , and soya remain the major crops of the rainfed areas of India.
Groundwater level-
The too much exploitation of the groundwater by tube wells led to the depletion of this finite resource . For example , in some parts of Madhya Pradesh , the groundwater levels have plunged from 50 ft in the 1970s to 700 ft now.
National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA)-
it was established in 2006 to give focussed attention to rainfed areas of the country . This advisory body formulated some common guidelines for the Watershed Development Project and is in consultation with all the states for its implementation.
Rain is usually seen as a benefits to crops and fields , but there is an ideal amount of rainfall in any given growing season for most crops. if the average rainfall is much lower or higher than the ideal , it can lead to significant problems , from drowned crops to lower yields.
When to Water-
Knowing when to water , as well as how much to water , is skill backed by years of experienced if there has been rainfall. However , a combination of not enough watering and no rainfall could also could also lead to dying crops.
Underwatering "starves" the plant of water , which can lead to crop death or low yield . Conversely , overwatering can lead to browned tips of crop leaves and also possible root rot and other issues.
Disease Mold-
If crops are too wet , they could also start to mold or catch a fungus . The soil can also start to collect bacteria mold and fungus , which can then be absorbed by the plants. While this isn't as common in crops as it is in indoor plants , poor drainage and irrigation systems can lead to these types of growths taking control over your crops.
Along with mold or a fungus , disease can also spread amongst your crops. Rainfall is also a good indicators of predicting common crop disease , as it can affect the spread of disease , as it can affect the spread of diseases to plants , leading to massive diseases crops . This could affect its yield or cause the entire field to become unusable.
Growth from seed-
Besides disease , rainfall can also determine how fast a crop will grow from seed , including when it will be ready for harvesting . A good balance of rain and proper irrigation can lead to faster - growing plants , which can cut down on germination time and the length between seeding and harvest .The crops are dependent on water during their entire life cycle in order to survive and thrive .
Soil Health-
soil is also greatly affected by rainfall . if it is too wet or too dry , nutrients in the soil can run off and not make it to the plants ' roots , leading to poor growth and overall health . Additionally , as mentioned previously , overwatering or too much rain can also lead to bacteria , fungus, and mold growth in the soil .
Crop Output-
knowing when to water , preventing disease and mold , and making sure the soil is kept at the right moisture level are all components of the overall goal of the crops and their farmers :to have the highest crop yield possible .The right amount of rainfall can balance out these factors , which can lead to healthier , larger crops that crops that can be harvested more fully.
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