Published on 18 Feb 2025
Dryland farming is a sustainable agricultural practice that relies solely on rainfall and soil moisture for crop production, without the aid of irrigation. It is primarily practiced in regions with low and unpredictable rainfall, often characterized by arid or semi-arid climates.
Key principles in Dryland Farming
Water Conservation:
Contour Ploughing: Ploughing across the slope instead of down creates ridges that capture and retain rainwater, preventing runoff.
Example: Used in hilly areas of Ethiopia for sorghum cultivation
Mulching: Covering the soil with organic materials like straw or leaves reduces evaporation and keeps the soil moist for longer.
Example: Mulching with maize stalks in Kenyan farms for millet
Terracing: Building level steps on sloping land creates flat surfaces that hold rainwater and prevent erosion.
Example: Terraced rice paddies in Yunnan Province, China
Soil Management:
Organic Matter Addition: Adding compost, manure, or crop residues improves soil fertility and water retention capacity.
Example: Applying vermicompost to improve chickpea yields in drylands of India.
Cover Cropping: Planting legumes between main crops protects the soil from erosion, adds nitrogen, and improves soil structure.
Example: Planting vetch as a cover crop for wheat in drylands of the Great Plains, USA
Crop Rotation: Regularly changing the type of crops grown helps maintain soil fertility, prevent pest buildup, and improve nutrient cycling.
Crop Selection:
Drought-Resistant Varieties: Choosing crops like sorghum, pearl millet, and chickpeas that can withstand long dry periods and utilize limited water efficiently.
Example: Planting drought-resistant pigeon pea varieties in drylands of Maharashtra, India
Early-Maturing Varieties: Selecting crops that mature quickly before the dry season arrives helps ensure successful harvests.
Minimal Tillage:
Reduced Tillage Techniques: Practices like no-till or reduced tillage minimize soil disturbance, preserving moisture and promoting soil health.
Challenges in Dry land Farming
Low and Unpredictable Rainfall: Erratic rainfall patterns make crop planning and management difficult.
Example: The arid regions of Rajasthan in India experience erratic rainfall patterns, often leading to crop failures due to insufficient moisture.
Soil Degradation: Intensive cultivation, overgrazing, and deforestation contribute to soil erosion and loss of fertility.
Water Scarcity: Limited access to irrigation facilities exacerbates the impact of low rainfall, as seen in many parts of India.
Example: Farmers in the Sahel region of Africa face acute water shortages, limiting crop choices and yields.
Economic Constraints: Dryland farmers often have limited access to credit, technology, and markets, hindering their ability to invest in improved practices.
Example: Price volatility for maize, a staple crop in many dryland regions, has caused financial hardship for farmers in the United States.
Market Fluctuations: Price volatility for dryland crops can lead to economic instability for farmers.
Pests and Diseases: Arid conditions can favour certain pests and diseases, reducing crop yields.
Climate Change: Increasing temperatures and changing rainfall patterns intensify the challenges of dryland farming.
Example: The fall armyworm, a major pest, has caused significant damage to maize crops in drylands.
Government schemes and measures
National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA): This body focuses on promoting rainfed agriculture through research, technology dissemination, and capacity building.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): Promotes horticulture in rainfed areas, providing technical and financial support to farmers.
National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Aims to increase production of food grains in rainfed areas through improved varieties, soil health management, and water harvesting.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Focuses on expanding irrigation facilities, including through micro-irrigation systems, which can benefit dryland farmers.
Specific Measures
Watershed Development: Building check dams, farm ponds, and contour bunding to conserve rainwater.
Example: The Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan of Maharashtra has led to the construction of farm ponds, improving water availability for agriculture in drought-prone Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.
Soil and Water Conservation: Promoting practices like mulching, crop rotation, and agroforestry to improve soil health and water retention.
Example: Promoting the use of zai cultivation, a traditional method of sowing seeds in moisture-conserving pits, has helped farmers retain soil moisture and improve crop yields.
Promotion of Drought-Resistant Crops: Encouraging cultivation of millets, sorghum, and other drought-tolerant crops.
Seed and Fertilizer Subsidies: Providing financial support to farmers for purchasing quality seeds and fertilizers.
Example: Farmers in the Bundelkhand region have benefited from subsidized hybrid seeds of drought-tolerant crops like sorghum, leading to higher productivity.
Extension Services: Strengthening agricultural extension services to provide farmers with technical guidance.
Example: The Department of Agriculture has established Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in dryland areas to provide hands-on training and demonstrations to farmers.
Credit and Insurance: Ensuring access to affordable credit and crop insurance to mitigate risks.
Market Linkage: Establishing farmer producer organizations (FPOs) to improve market access and price realization.
Weather-Based Crop Insurance: Offering insurance products that cover losses due to adverse weather conditions.
Geography
DRYLAND FARMING
Key principles in Dryland Farming
Challenges in Dry land Farming
National Rainfed Area Authority
Government schemes and measures for dryland farming
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
General Studies Paper 1
Resources Distribution
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