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Rainfed Agriculture: An Evolving Approach for Inclusive Growth of Rainfed Areas. Ravindra A Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network (RRA-Network) www.wassan.org. THE STORY OF GREEN REVOLUTION . . . Productivity gradient in rice (t / ha). Poverty Clusters. Irrigated Lands.
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Rainfed Agriculture: An Evolving Approach for Inclusive Growth of Rainfed Areas Ravindra A Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network (RRA-Network) www.wassan.org
Poverty Clusters Irrigated Lands
Fundamental Principles of GR: • Intensive irrigation in select well-endowed areas • Few Crops : Rice & Wheat • HYVs – research back up • Assured Price & procurement • Produce surplus food • Distribute across the country • SEEDS • Fertilizers • Pesticides/ herbicides • Machines
Research Industry Seeds Fertilisers Transport Extension Premises of Agriculture Policy and investments in India : Input-response Intensive inputs Well-endowed areas (water/ soils / topography) High productivity & surplus generation Creating Demand Irrigation Storage Credit Price Support Machinery Energy Energy Labour This has become de facto agriculture policy, even extended to rainfed areas
Singular agricultural policy ‘naturally’ discriminated the rainfed areas…… Research Industry Seeds Fertilisers Transport Extension Creating Demand • Undulating • Marginal lands • Low soil depth • High climate variability • interior • Low inputs • ….. Irrigation Storage Price Support Machinery Labour What Public Policy Support is Available?
What brings development of ‘rainfed areas’ agriculture..?
Supplemental irrigation can increase yields by 30 – 40 % REQUIRED INVESTMENTS PRESENT WATER INVESTMENTS
Policy Paradigm: PRODUCE SURPLUS IN WELL-ENDOWED DISTRICTS. Few high response crops in the food systems. GR DISTRIBUTE TO ALL DISTRICTS PRODUCE SURPLUS in local areas. Relevant Local production and sufficiency & Local incomes Protect local- diverse food crops consumption
DOES IT WORK? Watershed development NRM Agriculture Development Production Systems Poverty programs Livelihoods
Table : Cost of composting (data for the period December 2006 to April 2007) • Source : work, motion studies carried out by WASSAN as a part of AP Drought Adaptation Initiative.
BRING SOM – into the realm of PUBLIC POLICY • Addition of soil organic matter is an economic decision of the farmer that weighs • Prices of alternate crops • Input requirements (including labor) • Wage rates • Capital costs • Net incomes • If soil organic matter is important, it has to be brought into the ambit of ‘Public Policy’.
Irrigation • What can the rainfed farmer achieve if such investments are available?
District : Anantapur Trends in Crop Area Trends in Livestock
Sustainable - Farming Systems Approach to W/S Conservation Production Livelihoods Unsustainable - Engineering approach to w/s
Paradigmatic Shifts in Policy : • Rainfed areas have high growth potential.. • Parity of investments – enhance investments in rainfed agriculture (incl livestock & Fisheries) • Relevant frame work of public investments / incentives and subsidies