Concept of Dryland Farming
- Definition: Dryland farming refers to crop production in areas with low and uncertain rainfall (less than 750 mm annually), without irrigation facilities, relying solely on natural rainfall.
- Core Philosophy: Not just to grow crops, but to conserve and maximize efficient use of every drop of moisture. → A risk management system for coping with drought and rainfall variability.
Key Techniques & Strategies in Dryland Farming
- Moisture Conservation
- Contour farming: Plowing across slopes to slow runoff.
- Terracing: Steps on slopes to reduce erosion.
- Mulching: Covering soil with residues to reduce evaporation.
- Fallowing: Leaving land unplanted to store soil moisture.
- Soil Management
- Tillage: Dust mulch to break capillaries and reduce evaporation.
- Organic matter: Compost/manure to improve water-holding capacity.
- Crop Selection; Drought-tolerant & early-maturing crops: Sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, barley, chickpea, pigeon pea.
- Water Harvesting; Collecting runoff from catchments and diverting to cropped areas.
Comparison of Dry Farming, Dryland Farming & Rainfed Farming
Feature |
Dry Farming (<750 mm) |
Dryland Farming (750–1150 mm) |
Rainfed Farming (>1150 mm) |
Rainfall Regime |
Arid & Semi-Arid (<750 mm) |
Dry Sub-Humid to Semi-Arid (750–1150 mm) |
Humid & Per-Humid (>1150 mm) |
Length of Growing Period (LGP) |
<120 days |
120–180 days |
>180 days |
Core Challenge |
Severe moisture stress, frequent droughts |
Uncertain rainfall, mid-season dry spells |
Excess moisture, flooding, erosion |
Main Objective |
Crop survival, water conservation |
Stability of yield, drought management |
Drainage, soil conservation, high yield |
Risk Level |
Very High (crop failures common) |
Moderate (some stability possible) |
Low (except flood/erosion risk) |
Soil Type (Typical) |
Shallow, low fertility, sandy/loamy |
Medium black soils, red soils |
Deep alluvials, lateritic soils |
Management Practices |
Mulching, contour bunds, hardy crops |
Intercropping, moisture conservation, soil fertility improvement |
Drainage, bunding, erosion control |
Example Crops |
Pearl millet, sorghum, barley, pulses (chickpea, pigeon pea), sesame |
Maize, soybean, cotton, groundnut, sunflower, sorghum (better rainfall) |
Rice, sugarcane, jute, tea, coffee, rubber, coconut |
Cropping System |
Mixed cropping, low-input subsistence farming |
Intercropping, double cropping possible |
Mono-cropping (rice) & plantation-based systems |
Importance in India
- Land Area:
- ~55% of India’s net sown area is rainfed (~85 M ha).
- Dryland farming covers the majority of this.
- True dry farming (<500 mm): ~6% (Rajasthan, Gujarat).
- Contribution to Food Basket:
- ~45% of total food grain production.
- ~70% of pulses.
- ~90% of coarse cereals (millets).
- ~80% of oilseeds (groundnut, sunflower).
- Livelihood Support:
- Supports nearly 60% of cattle population and large numbers of goats, sheep, and other livestock.
Key Facts for Exams
- India → largest rainfed agricultural area in the world (~85 M ha).
- 75% pulses, 90% coarse cereals, 80% oilseeds grown in rainfed areas.
- Dryland farming → mostly in Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT).
- Institutes:
- ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad – Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture.
- AICRPDA – All India Coordinated Research Project on Dryland Agriculture.
Research & Institutional Support in India
- ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad: Nodal institute for dryland research.
- AICRPDA: Coordinates location-specific technologies.
- ICRISAT, Hyderabad: International institute focused on Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT).
- Watershed Development Programmes: NWDPRA, DPAP, IWMP (integrated watershed management).
Previous Year ASRB NET / JRF Exam Facts
- % of India’s net sown area under rainfed farming = ~55%.
- Contribution of rainfed areas to pulses = ~75%.
- Contribution to coarse cereals = ~90%.
- Contribution to oilseeds = ~80%.
- ICAR institute for dryland farming = CRIDA (Hyderabad).
- Key strategy in dryland farming = moisture conservation.