Rainfed Agriculture

Featured Articles
August 10, 2022 The irrigation at all costs mindset and narrow policies for drought protection during the colonial rule ignored rainfed agriculture and local practices that sustained agriculture in the Bombay Deccan. This continues even today.
Recurrent droughts and the struggle for survival (Image Source: Gaurav Bhosale via Wikimedia Commons):
June 19, 2022 Odisha Millets Mission is trying to bring back the glory of millets in tribal areas
A range of millet recipes and ready to cook items are sold by Millets on Wheels in Jashipur block in Mayurbhanj district. This initiative is supported by Odisha Millets Mission (Image: Odisha Millets Mission)
May 25, 2022 A study assesses the impact of the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming programme
The APCNF policy promotes zero synthetic chemical inputs (Image: Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming Facebook Page)
April 24, 2021 Study by CEEW proposes several measures for promoting sustainable agricultural practices and systems, including restructured government support and rigorous evidence generation
SRI rice field (Image: Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0)
April 1, 2021 Lower transaction costs, minimal leakages, and immediate delivery make a strong case for direct cash transfers, says study.
Access to credit increased farmers' expenditures on farm-related activities. (Image: Pixy.org)
March 12, 2021 Challenges and aspirations of community champions and how programs can address them
Kalyani Dash works with 150 households in the village directly and trains them on chemical-free farming techniques, water secure crop production, efficient water use in agriculture for a sustainable farming future as well as kitchen and nutrition gardening. (Image: FES)
Ajunhi kordech aad (The wells are still dry) - An article in marathi - Anubhav magazine
This article discusses the problems related to water scarcity. Posted on 03 Dec, 2011 11:53 AM

A large part of the state of Maharashtra continues to face acute scarcity of water due to scanty rainfall, which has had a serious impact on the livelihoods of people who live in these areas. This article "Ajuni Kordech Aad" meaning "The wells are still dry" published in the magazine Anubhav highlights the extreme hardships, lack of employment opportunities, forced migration due to negative impact on agriculture and livestock, and poverty and deprivation that people living in these areas have to face due to this water scarcity.

Thembe thembe samruddhi (Prosperity with every drop) - An article from the magazine Anubhav
This article highlights the situation of acute scarcity of water in the state of Maharashtra. Posted on 02 Dec, 2011 03:23 PM

This article in Marathi from the magazine Anubhav titled 'Thembe thembe samruddhi' meaning 'Prosperity with every drop' highlights the situation of acute scarcity of water in the state of Maharashtra and argues that this has been a barrier to the progress of the state leading to dire poverty and deprivation. 

Gravity based spring water supply systems in Andhra Pradesh: Lessons and steps towards the future
Current studies and activities indicate that indigenous knowledge is appropriate for local situations and that it is efficient and sustainable to springboard from such knowledge and practices. Posted on 22 Nov, 2011 07:35 AM

Guest post by – Rahul Bakare, Arghyam

 This article details an example where local knowledge has been used to develop access to safe water in the tribal areas of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh

Living rivers, dying rivers: Rivers in North East India
The fourth lecture in the ten-part series titled "Living Rivers, Dying Rivers" was delivered by Dr. Chandan Mahanta, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati on 'Rivers in North-East India'. Posted on 15 Nov, 2011 03:29 PM

Rivers in North-East India

The majestic Brahmaputra river (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Assam’s strategy and action plan on climate change - Recommendations - First draft - ASTEC (2011)
ASTEC prepares Assam's action plan on climate change. Posted on 07 Nov, 2011 11:20 AM

This report by the Assam Science Technology & Environment Council (ASTEC) contains the compiled recommendation of three consultative workshops organized in Assam University, Gauhati University and

Zero tillage in the rice-wheat systems of the Indo-Gangetic plains - A review of impacts and sustainability implications by IFPRI
There is need to extend the gains of zero tillage more rigorously to the less endowed areas and farmers, the paper says. Posted on 31 Oct, 2011 06:49 PM

zero tillageThis paper by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) reviews the success of zero-tillage wheat in the rice-wheat systems of the Indo-Gange

New hope for Indian food security? The System of Rice Intensification – A paper by International Institute for Environment and Development
There is need for setting a nationwide policy to adopt SRI on at least 25 per cent of the irrigated rice area in the next five years, the report says. Posted on 29 Oct, 2011 11:43 AM

This paper from the gatekeeper series of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) describes the potential of an innovative rice cultivation practice-the system of rice intensification (SRI)—for allowing Indian rice farmers to not only enhance rice production and their net incomes, but also to solve the water crisis.

Climate change impact on hill agriculture and farmers adaptive strategies – A case study of Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh
This study by Bhoomika Partap and Tej Partap deals with climate change impact on hill agriculture and farmers adaptive strategies. Posted on 26 Oct, 2011 06:35 PM

It takes apple as an indicator crop to investigate the positive and negative effects of climate change on farm economy. The research is a field study to determine the agricultural and socioeconomic impact of climate change on the farmers apple economy of the Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh, India.

"The water in springs of my hills is cool, do not migrate from this land, o my beloved" - Solving water shortages through ancient knowledge
Do the lyrics have the pull to stop mass migration from this Himalayan village to the cities like Delhi? Posted on 24 Sep, 2011 12:33 AM

Author: Anupam Mishra

"The water in springs of my hills is cool, Do not migrate from this land o my beloved.”

RRA invites call for proposals on action research on support systems for rainfed agriculture – Apply by October 15, 2011
Posted on 05 Sep, 2011 04:04 PM

 RRA

Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture (RRA) is established at Hivos in partnership with Ford Foundation. The network documents and synthesises lessons from field experiences in soil, seeds, water, millet-based crop systems, fisheries, livestock, credit, markets and institutions. It generates large-scale field experiences through comprehensive pilots in convergence with government programmes.

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