Rainfed Agriculture in India: Perspectives and Challenges

India's post-independence agricultural growth has moved the country from the severe food crisis of the 60s to the aggregate food surplus today. 'Rainfed' agriculture has played an important role in this. About two-thirds of total land-sown area comes under rainfed lands. Rainfed crops account for 48 per cent of the area under food crops and 68 per cent under non-food crops. One of the major challenges facing rainfed agriculture in India today is its sustainable development through conserving and enhancing the inherent capacity of its land and other natural resources. Any erosion of this capacity will substantially threaten the country's food security and agriculture. In order to address this concern, along with increasing production of food grains and other agricultural products, it is necessary to enhance and to conserve the stock of available land, water, and other natural resources, as well as to develop improved technologies. The essays in this book look at important aspects relating to rainfed agriculture in India, including crop husbandry, conservation of land and water, livestock development, and livelihood options in the rural non-farm sector. The contributions also discuss the policies, initiatives, and institutional changes that are necessary for rejuvenating rainfed agriculture.