Rainfed agriculture is a type of farming that gets its water from rainfall. It provides a significant portion of the food consumed by poor communities in developing countries. With rainfed farming covering a large portion of India, it is critical to focus on rainfed farming to ensure the improvement of the agriculture sector in India. Usually, rain-fed agriculture is employed in regions with more than 750mm of annual precipitation. Moisture stress will be at its lowest point here, and soil conservation is given a higher priority. This article will explain to you about Rain Fed Farming which will be helpful in preparing the Agriculture Syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

Rain Fed Farming and Agro-Ecology

• Nearly 90% of our millets, 80% of our oilseeds and pulses, 60% of our cotton, 40% of our population, and 60% of our livestock are produced in rain-fed areas.
• These findings show an existing vulnerability to subsequent climate change. Preparation, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change are thus the only options.
• Rain-fed regions are typically populated by impoverished farmers and are environmentally fragile, making them sensitive to climate change.
• However, rain-fed regions also offer food security since they grow millets, pulses, and oilseeds.
• The majority of these locations' endemic and cultivable landraces are transient.
• Ephemeral plants are those that live for just a very brief time and are found in locations that receive their water from the rain. When it rains, the dormant seeds quickly emerge, bloom, seed, and disseminate their seeds.
• Most rain-fed crops are less productive than their irrigated crops, hence features that increase productivity and resilience are screened for in rain-fed crop enhancement projects.
• India, a subtropical nation with 15 different agroclimatic zones, depends heavily on the southwest monsoon.
• Nearly 140 million hectares of India's 329 million hectares of land are net sown, and of that, 70 million hectares are rain-fed. Indian farmland is typically about one hectare in size.

Rain Fed Farming in India

• About 60% of India's total net sown area is made up of rainfed areas. In areas where rainfed crops are grown, 68% are non-food crops and 48 % are food crops.
• India leads the world in rain-fed agriculture, both in terms of area and produce value.
• Rain-fed agriculture is used by approximately 61% of India's farmers, and it accounts for 55% of gross cropped area.
• Agriculture accounts for 60% of farmers' income in irrigated areas. Farmers in rainfed areas, on the other hand, earn only 20-30% of their income from farm-related activities.
• They produce 89% of the country's millets, 88% of its pulses, 73% of its cotton, 69% of its oilseeds, and 40% of its rice.
• Furthermore, rain-fed areas support 64% of the cattle, 74% of the sheep, and 78% of the goat population in the country.
• The issue of poverty occurs in rainfed areas as a result of population pressure on agricultural holdings.
• The numerous climatic limitations that manifest as water scarcity for rainfed agricultural production define the climate in India's rainfed regions.
• A lengthy dry season follows a brief (sometimes intense) wet season in the mostly semi-arid and dry sub-humid climates.
• Even in years with abundant rainfall, rainfall is incredibly unpredictable both in terms of timing and location, with significant risks of dry spells during key growth stages.
• The atmospheric circulation and its close connections to the ENSO phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean are just two of the many elements controlling the monsoonal climate that cause the oscillations.

Rain Fed Farming - Benefits

• Nearly 60% of the agricultural land in India is in rainfed areas, their contribution, particularly to the Indian society, is more.
• In terms of ecology, agricultural output, and the livelihoods of millions of people, these places assume unique significance.
• Rainfed regions have the ability to increase their proportion of food grain production with adequate management.
• In fact, compared to irrigated areas, this area has more potential for faster agricultural expansion.

Rain Fed Farming - Challenges

• Frequent Droughts: Drought and famine are two common characteristics of India's rainfed agriculture.
• Soil Degradation: Since the Green Revolution of the 1960s, the goal of the country's agricultural policy has been to increase crop productivity through irrigation, intensive use of HYVs, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, and usage of insecticides.
  • In the drier areas and with rainfed farming systems, this has been a significant obstacle to soil preservation.
• Low Investment Capacity: In India, small and marginal farmers make up 86% of operational holdings in rainfed farming, up from 62% in 1960–1961.
• Poor Market Linkages: The majority of rural communities are known for their subsistence economies. Farm produce that is in excess is only sold when necessary to support the family.
• Difficulty in Pooling the Produce: Sicne several production units (families) run separately, it is challenging to combine the products for effective marketing.
• Uncertain Rainfall: Even in water-strapped areas, there is typically enough rainfall to double and frequently even triple yields in rainfed farming systems. However, it is sometimes unavailable, leading to dry spells, and most of it is lost.
• Other Unmet Requirements: In addition to water, improving rainfed agriculture necessitates investments in soil, crop, and farm management as well as better markets, infrastructure, and access to and control over land and water resources that is more fair and equitable.

Rain Fed Farming - Government Initiatives

Rainfed Area Development Programme

• Rainfed Area Development Programme was implemented as a sub-scheme Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
• To improve the quality of life of farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers, by providing a comprehensive package of activities designed to maximise farm returns.
• Increasing agricultural productivity in rainfed areas in a sustainable way through the use of appropriate farming system-based approaches.
• Through diversified and composite farming systems, the negative impact of crop failure due to drought, flood, or uneven rainfall distribution is reduced.
• Restoring trust in rainfed agriculture by creating long-term job opportunities through improved on-farm technologies and cultivation practises.
• Increased farmer income and livelihood support to reduce poverty in rainfed areas.
• The primary goal of this programme is to promote the use of various farming systems based on natural resource endowments created by farmers or by schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), and National Horticulture Mission (NHM).

National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA)

• The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) is creating a comprehensive drought-resistance action plan for 24 districts in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
• According to an Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) study, districts are identified as drought-prone based on parameters set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
• The following are the key principles of drought resistance:
  • to save every last drop of water;
  • to improve water use efficiency (including crop rotation and the use of integrated agricultural systems);
  • to protect every inch of soil and
  • risk reduction
• The primary goals of Drought Proofing Action Plans are to improve the farming system's ability to cope with expected climate variations more effectively by implementing resilient technologies and practises.

Conclusion

Although the value of rainfed farming varies by area, it provides the majority of the food for underprivileged populations in developing nations. Although irrigated agriculture has contributed more to Indian food production (particularly during the Green Revolution), rainfed agriculture still produces approximately 60% of total cereals and plays an important role. Given the country's increasing demand for food grains, there is a need to develop and improve the productivity of rainfed areas. If properly managed, these areas have the potential to contribute a greater share of food production and faster agricultural growth than irrigated areas that have reached a plateau.