Rainfed agriculture is generally overlooked by development investors, researchers and policy makers due to limited confidence in its ability to increase agricultural production and development. However, research undertaken by a team of leading scientists from global organizations demonstrates its potential in achieving food security, improving livelihoods and most importantly addressing issues of equity and poverty reduction in dryland areas - the hot spots of poverty.
On the basis of case studies from varied agricultural and ecological regions in Asia and Africa, chapters discuss the need for adopting new paradigms between rainfed and irrigated agriculture, catchment/micro-watershed management approaches, upgrades in science-based development and more investments in rainfed areas. Yield gaps for major rainfed crops are analysed globally and possible ways and means including technological, social, and institutional options to bridge the yield gaps are discussed in detail. Covering areas such as rainwater harvesting and its efficient use, the rehabilitation of degraded land and assessment methods for social, environmental and economic impacts, this book will be necessary for both academics and policy makers working in water management, agriculture and sustainable development.
Researchers and students in hydrology and agriculture
1 Rain-fed agriculture - Past trend and future prospectsS.P. Wani, T.K. Sreedevi, Johan Rockstörm and Y.S. Ramakrishna2 Zooming in on the global hotspots of rainfed agriculture in water constrained environmentsJohan Rockström and Louise Karlberg3 Water resource implications of upgrading rainfed agriculture - focus on green and blue water trade-offsLouise Karlberg, Johan Rockström and Malin Falkenmark4 Tectonics-Climate Linked Natural Soil Degradation and its Impact in Rainfed Agriculture : Indian Experience D.K. Pal, T. Bhattacharyya, P. Chandran and S.K. Ray5 Determinants of crop growth and yield in a changing climate P.K. Agarwal 6 Yield Gap Analysis: Modeling of Achievable Yields at Farm Level Piara Singh, P.K. Aggarwal, V.S. Bhatia, M.V.R. Murty, M. Pala, Theib Oweis, B. Benli, K.P.C. Rao and S.P. Wani7 Can rainfed agriculture feed the world? - An assessment of potentials and risk Charlotte De Fraiture , Louise Karlberg and Johan Rockström8 Opportunities for Improving Crop-water Productivity through Genetic Enhancement of dryland crops C.L.L. Gowda, R. Serraj, G. Srinivasan, Y.S. Chauhan, B.V.S. Reddy, K.N. Rai, S.N. Nigam, P.M. Gaur, L.J. Reddy, S.L. Dwivedi, H.D. Upadhyaya, P.H. Zaidi, H.K. Rai, P. Maniselvan, R. Follkerstm and M. Nalini9 Water Harvesting for Improved Rainfed Agriculture in the Dry Environments Theib Oweis and Ahmed Hachum10 Supplemental Irrigation for Improved Rainfed Agriculture : In WANA Region Theib Oweis and Ahmed Hachum11 Opportunities for water harvesting and supplemental irrigation for improving rainfed agriculture in semi-arid areas P. Pathak, K.L. Sahrawat, S.P. Wani, R.C. Sachan and R. Sudi12 Integrated farm management practices and up scaling the impact for increased productivity of rainfed systems T.K. Sreedevi and S.P. Wani 13 Challenges of Adoption and Adaptation of Land and Water Management Options in Smallholder Agriculture: Synthesis of Lessons and Experiences Bekele Shiferaw, Julius Okello and V. Ratna Reddy14 Scaling-out Community Watershed Management for Multiple Benefits in Rainfed Areas
Rainfed agriculture is generally overlooked by development investors, researchers and policy makers due to limited confidence in its ability to increase agricultural production and development. However, research undertaken by a team of leading scientists from global organizations demonstrates its potential in achieving food security,...