The Hindu Business Line : Focus on dryland farming

The ensuing Budget must focus on dryland farming. Although Green Revolution boosted wheat and paddy output through extensive - and often reckless - use of better seeds and chemicals, making India self-sufficient in food, the food production is now stagnating again. This is a recipe for disaster since the population continues to grow. This calls for a second Green Revolution, which can be ushered in only by focusing on dryland farming. Dryland farming has been a major part of agriculture in the country. Indian farmers have traditionally grown crops such as ragi, bajara and jowar. These crops have the capacity to survive water-stressed periods and provide something to the farmer at the end of the day.

A major component in dryland farming is to enhance research in crops suited to drier zones. During past 60 years, there has been little study to enhance the crop production of arid zones. Research does not only mean creating some shallowly altered hybrid seeds, but a complete study of arid ecosystem to come out with organic and sustainable method of getting more out of the land, without harming the environment.

The Finance Minister can evolve some system to reward the farmers who are fighting against all odds and trying to produce something out of the dry lands. The Finance Minister can also make totally separate Budget allocation towards dryland ecosystem research, for dryland crops are able to provide some basic income to farmers.

Shailendra Kumar,

Head - Commodity Research,

Sharekhan Ltd, Mumbai

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