2-Drought Mitigation and Farming System Research in India.

Abstract

The drought-prone areas in India suffer from spatial and temporal variations in agricultural productivity. Traditional subsistence agriculture in vogue in these regions further enhances their vulnerability to drought. Consequently, crop failures are frequent; even famine like situations are at times encountered. This paper deals with drought, its causes and consequences, and discusses farming systems and practices prevailing in the drought prone areas of India. Based on the present scenario, strategy for drought mitigation with focus on on-farm research in a farming system perspective is suggested The strategy also includes the phasing of interventions with short, medium and long-term goals. Farmers participation in technology development, early warning, drought monitoring and decision support systems, contingency crop planning are considered important as strategic measures for mitigating the effect of droughts. Various options for soil and rainwater conservation, crop management, integrated nutrient management, development of water resources and alternate land use systems, with watershed development approach have been categorized under short, medium and long-term measures for technology development and application. The paper advocates agro-eco zone based consortia development and suggests a structure for on-farm research including capacity building of the farmers in drought-prone areas of India.