The Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture (RRA) Network released a new rainfed agriculture atlas which maps the agro biodiversity and socio-economic conditions prevailing in such areas.
About:
The latest rainfed agriculture atlas not only maps the agro biodiversity and socio-economic conditions prevailing in such areas, but also attempts to document the policy biases that are making farming unviable for many in these areas.
Key findings:
Three out of five farmers in India grow their crops using rainwater, instead of irrigation.
However, per hectare government investment into their lands may be 20 times lower.
Government procurement of their crops (Coarse cereals) is a fraction of major irrigated land crops (Wheat and Rice).
Farmers in rainfed areas are receiving 40% less of their income from agriculture in comparison to those in irrigated areas.
Flagship government schemes, such as seed and fertiliser subsidies and soil health cards, are designed for irrigated areas and simply extended to rainfed farmers without taking their needs into consideration.
Recommendations:
A more balanced approach was needed, to give rainfed farmers the same research and technology focus, and production support that their counterparts in irrigation areas have received over the last few decades.
In the long run, cash incentives and income support like the PM-KISAN scheme announced in the budget earlier this month were better than extensive procurement.
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