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Direct seeding
This involves sowing seeds directly in a field with a machine. There is no transplantation involved. This method lowers water consumption by 30 per cent. It reduces labour, irrigation and electricity costs. However, yields may be lower. Also, while flood irrigation prevents weeds, direct seeding requires use of herbicides and other measures such as mulching to curb them. Direct seeding is widely practised in the US and Australia and gradually gaining ground in India. It has been adopted by farmers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and a couple of other states.
Multi-cropping
As the name suggests, this involves the cultivation of more than one crop on the same land. Multi-cropping enhances the fertility of the soil by maintaining and increasing organic matter. Since different crops have different harvesting times, this method assures farmers of a steady and rising income. It also mitigates the risk of a failed crop due to pests or a poor monsoon. Multi-cropping has been practised by farmers in India for some time and more are adopting it. For example, pepper is grown in coffee plantations as an inter-crop. Higher pepper prices helped growers when the price of coffee dropped a couple of years ago.
Organic farming
This eco-friendly and sustainable system of farming has been around since ancient times. Today, it is slowly becoming popular again. Organic farming involves maintaining the quality of the soil and using biological material for pest control. No artificial or chemical inputs, such as fertilisers, are used. Instead, organic material, such as animal, farm and aquatic waste, as well as other biological inputs, are used to enrich the soil. The crops are also rotated to preserve soil quality. However, the yields from organic farming are lower and the produce is more expensive than that of conventional farming.
Drip irrigation
This method or irrigation has been gaining ground in India since the 1970s. It is suitable for farming in areas with lower rainfall. Drip irrigation involves the use of a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. The water is delivered to the base of the plant or its root through narrow tubes. The dripping and direct delivery negate the need to flood the field. This method can reduce the volume of water used in fields by as much as 70 per cent, while almost doubling yields. However, if it is used purely for irrigation, the pipes get blocked after a while. Experts say this has hindered its mass adoption. Using the pipes to also deliver fertilisers reduces the chances of blockage, say some farmers.
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