Rainfed Farming

Rainfed Farming

Subject – Agriculture

Context – Agro-ecology in dryland regions can bolster nutrition security

Concept –

• The United Nations Environment Program defines agro-ecology as “an ecological approach to agriculture, often described as low-external-input farming.
• Other terms such as regenerative agriculture or eco-agriculture are also used.
• Agro-ecology is not just a set of agricultural practices, it focuses on changing social relations, empowering farmers, adding value locally and privileging short value chains.
• It allows farmers to adapt to climate change, sustainably use and conserve natural resources and biodiversity
• In simple words, agro-ecology celebrates crop diversity.
• It seeks low energy external inputs, agro-ecological services as enterprises, soil covered for a large period of time through multiple cropping, niche crops and regional markets.
• The Prime Minister’s call for using less fertilisers and pesticides “as a great step for saving mother earth” on August 15, 2019 and reiteration of his “Vocal for Local” idea, aptly captures the essence of agro-ecology and it also meets 12 out of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Rain-fed areas provide nutrition security through millets, pulses and oilseeds.
  • Productivity of most of the rain-fed crops is meagre as compared to their irrigated cousins and hence traits of resilience and improved productivity are screened for under rain-fed crop improvement programs.
• Most of the endemic and cultivable land races of these regions are ephemerals. The word ‘ephemeral’ denotes all plants lasting a very short period of time and they inhabit rain-fed areas.
• Introducing agro-ecology in rain-fed areas could thus be a good policy option.