What are the key strategies used in dryland farming to overcome water scarcity and maximize agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid regions? Also, discuss the need to promote dryland farming in India.

Key strategies to overcome water scarcity and maximising productivity

1. Promotion of hardy crops like Bajra, Jawar (millets) in place of water guzzling crops.

2. Rainwater harvesting and traditional water structures like Eri, Zabo for storing water.

3. Following grey water irrigation strategies in the region.

4. Moreover, irrigation methods like drip irrigation are also followed.

5. Artificial farming methods like vertical farming for using available resources judiciously.

6. Mixed cropping methods to manage soil productivity.

Need to promote dryland farming in India :-

1. Geographical factors like mean deviation from average rainfall in areas like Rajasthan, Ladakh.

2. Depletion of groundwater resources. According to UN estimates, India uses 1/4th of groundwater of the world.

3. Extreme climate events like droughts are increasing in present times. eg) Droughts in Bihar and Jharkhand in 2022.

4. For food security of the nation at present and in future, dryland farming in India has been promoted through:-

• Emphasis on millets. eg) 2023 - International Year of Millet.

• Irrigation methods like drip irrigation under PM-Krishi Sichai Yojana.

• Biotechnological methods like Samba Masoori - drought resistant rice.