Revitalising Rainfed AgricultureNational Network

– An Overview

Malkangiri, May, 2012

Premises of Agriculture Policy and investments in India :

1.Input-response2.Intensive inputs3.Well-endowed areas (water/ soils / topography)4.High productivity & surplus generation

SeedsSeeds FertilisersFertilisers

ExtensionExtension

Creating Creating DemandDemand

Price Price SupportSupport

IrrigationIrrigation

LabourLabour

MachineryMachinery

Research Industry

TransportTransport

StorageStorage

CreditCredit

Energy Energy

This has become de facto agriculture policy, even extended to rainfed areas

Seeds Fertilisers

Extension

Creating Demand

Price Support

Irrigation

LabourMachinery

Research Industry

Transport

Storage

Singular agricultural policy ‘naturally’ Singular agricultural policy ‘naturally’ discriminated the rainfed areas……discriminated the rainfed areas……

What Public Policy Support is Available?

•Undulating•Marginal lands• Low soil depth• High climate variability • interior• Low inputs•…..

The Story of Rainfed Areas!!

Rainfed Areas : where 84% of rural poor live!!Rural Poverty Geography of the Country

Poverty Clusters

5

Irrigated Lands

POVERTYDISTRESS

DEGRADATION

Parity in Public Investments!

Cumulative investments on watershed

development in 40 years

Annual Subsidy on fertilisers

Mid-term review of XI plan, Planning Commission

Inherent disparities in public investments:What can a

rainfed farmer do if such a support is

available on an annual basis>

Parity in investments:

What can a rainfed farmer do if such investments are

available for moisture

management?

RRA network is attempting to evolve a framework and advocates for…• Differentiated policies for rainfed agriculture

(including livestock and fisheries)• Parity and substantial scaling up of public

investments for revitalising rainfed areas• Appropriate framework for public

investments – rooted in a paradigm relevant for rainfed areas.

Drivers of Agriculture Growth so far…

• Expansion of irrigation- mainly groundwater led, of late..

• Replacement of seeds – varieties, hybrids and GM• Intensification of fertilizer use through subsidies• Promotion of pesticides, herbicides • Mechanization (to some extent)• ..rest are cursory..

National food security, Productivity enhancement, focus on well-endowed surplus generating regions .. Are the key processes.

Multiple Crises …• Technology fatigue• Failing fertiliser use efficiency• Stagnant Total Factor Productivity• Low growth with high input subsidies• Subsidies surpassing investments

• Soil degradation• Expanding ‘dark’ groundwater areas• Increasing costs• Increasing Climate Change risks

• Acute Farmers’ distress• Poverty & hunger..• Droughts• Left Wing Extremism• High inflation in food ..

ECONOMIC

ECOLOGICAL

SOCIAL

More of the SAME drivers….

• Do we continue with the same Drivers while planning for the Rainfed Areas?

• Are the Agro-Geographies and the Agro-Ecologies the same?

More of the SAME distress….??

• What are the appropriate Drivers / Engines of Inclusive Growth for rainfed areas?

• Growth – without distress, inclusive of people and sustainable?

Agro-Ecologies are location specific

• Varying rainfall regimes (humid, sub-humid, semi-arid and arid regions)

• High rainfall risks• Location specific topography, mostly

undulating• Low soil depth in large areas• Diverse land use• …etc.

What to be achieved?• National food security

»OR LOCAL/ HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY ?

• Productivity Growth »OR INCOME GROWTH?

• Single Crop / single Animal productivity»OR SYSTEM / AREA PRODUCTIVITY?

• Intensive growth in well-endowed areas»Or EXTENSIVE GROWTH IN ALL AREAS?

• Intensive irrigation for few »OR EXTENSIVE SUPPORT IRRIGATION FOR ALL?

These are questions on the paradigm

Drivers / Growth Engines of a Relevant Paradigm for Rainfed Areas

1. Soil productivity through organic matter addition2. Supplementary/ critical irrigation – protecting kharif

crops at scale3. Millets and local food security4. Agronomic & Management Revolution:– System of Rice Intensification– Crop systems, NPM and other SA.

5. Diverse crop systems6. Extensive livestock –support systems and focus on

meat animals and bullocks7. Fisheries in rainfed water bodies8. Invest on commons 9. Farmers’ institutions

Relevant Paradigm for rainfed areas• Soils and Rainfall Use Efficiency• Protective irrigation• Strengthening extensive livestock systems and Commons• Diverse and location specific crop systems (related seed

systems)• Promote agronomic innovations• Reduce costs and external input use• Household and local Food Security

TOTAL DECENTRALISATION, LOCATION SPECIFIC DRIVERS, INVEST ON INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATIVE CAPACITIES AND FACILITATION, INTEGRATE PROGRAMS INTO A RELEVANT

PARADIGM AT THE BLOCK LEVEL, ITERATIVE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION & LEARNING

RRA Network – as emerging

rra-india@googlegroups.com

1. Networking2. Collaboration3. Partnership4. Anchorage5. Identification

RRA- NODES

• Soils : Chetna Organic• Seeds: CIKS• Water: ACWADAM• Fisheries: WASSAN• Millets: WASSAN• SRI : National

Consortium on SRI (PRADAN)

• Budgetory Analysis: CBGA

• Research : Re-Searching Rainfed Agrl, Group (IGIDR, IIM-Ah, Nistads, SPS) & ERU, JNU

• Communication: Barapani

• Secretariat : WASSAN

RRA Network – as emerging

rra-india@googlegroups.com

www.rainfedindia.org

Network

Collaboration

Partnership

CORE