Indian agriculture is predominantly rainfed under which both dry farming and dryland agriculture are included. Out of the total 143 million ha of cultivated area in the country, 101 million ha, i.e. nearly 70 per cent is rainfed. The dryland areas of the country contribute about 42 per cent of the total foodgrain production. In order to meet the targeted foodgrain production of 240 million tonnes, production from drylands has to be increased to 60 per cent.
Dryland agriculture in India is always a challenge, since crop production in dryland areas depends on monsoon showers. The major concerns of dryland farmers are: unpredictability of onset, duration and distribution of rainfall; unfavourable crop growth environment; limited choice of crop varieties; low fertility of soils; and short growing seasons.
There is an urgent need to formulate strategies to improve agriculture production in the dry farming tracts. Some improved techniques and practices recommended by experts include using resistant, tolerant, high-yielding and short-duration crop varieties; observing weather conditions closely and planning farming activities accordingly; and exercising substitution
in favour of those crops which are efficient utilizers of moisture and more responsive to inputs.
Dryland Agriculture and Wasteland Management: Emerging Issues and Extension Strategies is an anthology of well-researched articles by scientists, scholars and researchers on pertinent topics related to dryland agriculture such as wasteland management, soil evaluation, farming systems, extension strategies, indigenous technical knowledge, watershed management and sustainability of farming in different areas.
The book will prove to be an ideal reference source for students, teachers, researchers, administrators and all those concerned with the development of dryland agriculture in India.
C. Karthikeyan, Ph.D. (Gold Medallist), presently working as Associate Professor (Agricultural Extension) in the Department of Agricultural and Rural Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, has been a scientist in Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. He obtained his post-doctoral fellowship from Rockefeller Foundation, USA. He has written many books and published several papers in reputed international and national journals.
K. Thangaraja, Ph.D. from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, has working experience as Senior Research Fellow in national and international projects at the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, TNAU, Coimbatore. He has published a large number of research papers and articles in international and national journals. He has also presented many research papers at national seminars and conferences. He has specialized in Dryland Agriculture.
C. Cinthia Fernandez, Ph.D. from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, has working experience as Research Assistant in IARI–Regional Station, Wellington, and as Senior Research Fellow in national and international projects at the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, TNAU, Coimbatore. She has published several research papers and articles in reputed journals.
K. Chandrakandan is a retired Director of Extension Education from Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore. He has put in 30 years of service during which he taught students of postgraduation level. He has guided five Ph.D. scholars. He is the Vice-Chairman of International Extension Forum. He has been recognized as Extension Worker and Best Researcher by Tamil Nadu Agriculture University.
