Rainfed Agriculture
Enhancing crop water productivity to ameliorate groundwater decline - Article from Current Science
Posted on 15 Nov, 2010 10:55 PMThe following article is a literature survey of water management interventions taken up in Indian fields to improve the water productivity which would in turn reduce the groundwater decline.
News roundup (22 - 31 October 2010) :" India: Land of many cell phones, but fewer toilets"
Posted on 03 Nov, 2010 08:50 AMWastewater/Sanitation
River basin management: A negotiated approach - A report by Both ENDS and Gomukh
Posted on 21 Oct, 2010 08:34 PMThis report by Both ENDS and Gomukh compiles and showcases a set of seven case studies where a ‘negotiated approach’ to River Basin Management was already being used in different parts of the world and in different geographical and socio-political environments. It builds its analysis on real life experiences, including both successful and less successful attempts to implement and scale up local water management techniques. It sets out to go beyond general policy analyses, which tend to describe `what is’ or propose recipes that are based on theoretical research.
Mitigating the potential unintended impacts of water harvesting - A WHiRL Research Report
Posted on 20 Oct, 2010 07:28 AMThis report under the WHiRL research project by the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) identifies the potential unintended impacts of water harvesting so that, if at all possible they are avoided altogether, but if these do occur, they are recognised at an early stage and steps are taken to mitigate their affects. It highlights evidence that is emerging about water harvesting in semi-arid areas, on how water if used inappropriately, can lead to inequitable access to water resources and, in the extreme, to unreliable drinking water supplies.
Kisan Swaraj Yatra - A massive outreach effort interacting with farmers and urban citizens about the agricultural crisis and the way out
Posted on 15 Oct, 2010 12:41 PM
The Kisan Swaraj Yatra has been initiated by the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA). This is a loose alliance of scores of groups across the country, drawn from more than 20 states. The network consists of farmers’ organizations, consumer groups, women’s organizations, environmental organizations, organic farmers’ cooperatives, individual scientists, doctors, health activists and others.
"Andhra's mammoth water harvesting program - 'Jalayagnam', sinks" : News roundup (16-23 September 2010)
Posted on 24 Sep, 2010 10:29 AMAgriculture/Watershed Development
"The Vision of Natural Farming" - Book by Bharat Mansata, 2010
Posted on 15 Sep, 2010 03:31 PM
“It is only by mixed organic farming in harmony with Nature that India can sustainably provide abundant wholesome food, and meet every basic need of all – to live in health, dignity and peace.” Bhaskar Save
Seeds of Hope – Agriculture and Food Security - A Lokayan and Planning Commission study
Posted on 05 Sep, 2010 10:37 PMThis set of case studies is a part of a book prepared by Lokayan in collaboration with the Planning Commission titled “Seeds of Hope", covering themes of agriculture, biodiversity, education, forestry, governance, health, movements and water. The case studies related to agriculture and food security are summarised below:
Converting rain into grain: Opportunities for realizing the potential of rainfed agriculture in India - A working paper by the Challenge Programme on Water and Food
Posted on 22 Aug, 2010 10:41 PMThe study was done under the "Strategic Analyses of India’s National River Linking Project", of the Challenge Programme on Water and Food (CPWF) to estimate the available runoff in the potential regions to mitigate the terminal drought in the dominant rainfed districts of India.
Spectral response of rice plant canopy – A research report by National Institute of Hydrology
Posted on 28 Jun, 2010 04:26 PMThe study was conducted with the objective of establishing the relationship between spectral reflectance of rice canopy and crop growth. Significant relationship was developed between spectral indices and growth period. The coefficient of correlation between crop growth period and spectral reflectance ranged from 0.41 to 0.97 for the plant growth stages and canopy reflectance in single band and ratio spectra.