Course: B.Sc. Agriculture

Subject: Basic of Agriculture

Unit :3

Dry land and FSA

Indian agriculture is traditionally a system of Rain fed

agriculture. Considering the present rate of development of irrigation

facilities and also water potentiality of the country, express estimate that at

any point of time 50% of cropped area in India will remain under Rain fed

farming system.

Such vast areas as of now consume hardly 25% of total

fertilizer consumption of the country. Due to poor level of management,

crop productivity is also very low resulting in socio - economic

backwardness of the people.

Dry Land Farming

Dry lands:

Areas which receive an annual rainfall of 750 mm

or less and there is no irrigation facility for raising crops.

Dry land Agriculture:

Scientific management of soil and crops under dry

lands with out irrigation is called dry land agriculture.

Dry land crops:

It refers to all such crops which are drought

resistant and can complete their life cycle without irrigation in areas

receives an annual rainfall less than 750 mm.

Drought:

It is an condition of insufficient moisture supply to

the plants under which they fail to develop and mature properly. If

may be caused by soil, atmosphere or both.

Dry farming :

In the country with low and precarious rainfall two types agricultures

are usually met, one crop production on aerable farming land other animal

husbandry, including management of grazing areas.

Definiuons:

The different definitions of dry farming given by various express are

described below.

1. Dry farming is an improved system of cultivation in which

maximum amount of moisture is conserved in low and untimely rainfall for

the production of optimum Quantities of crop on economic and sustames

basis.

2. Dry farming in short, is a programme of soil and water

management designed to conserve the maximum quantity of

water on a particular piece of land.

3. Dry farming is the profitable production of useful crops

without irrigation on land that receive annually a rainfall of

500 mm or less.

By Anonymous

4. In a more specific way dry farming may be defined as an

efficient system of soil and crop management in the regions of

low land and uneven distributed rainfall.

By Anonymous

Dry land Vs Rainfed farming.

Constituents Dryland farming Rainfed farming

1. Rainfall (mm) < 750 >750

2. Moisture Shortage Enough / Sufficient

3. Growing season <200 >200

4. Growing regions Arid and Semiarid & up lands

of sub humid & humid regions.

Humid and sub

humid regions.

5. Cropping system Single crop or

intercropping

Intercropping or

double cropping.

6. Constraints Wind and water erosion Water erosion.

Dry land areas may be characterized by the following features

1.uncertain, ill-.distributed and limited annual rainfall;

2. occurrence of extensive climatic hazards like drought, flood etc;

3. undulating soil surface;

4. occurrence of extensive and large holdings;

5. practice of extensive agriculture i.e. prevalence of monocropping

etc;

6. relatively large size of fields;

7. similarity in types of crops raised by almost all the farmers of a

particular region;

8. very low crop yield;

9. poor market facility for the produce;

10. poor economy of the farmers; and

11. poor health of cattle as well as farmers.

FARMING SYSTEMS APPROACH (FSA)

Farming system is a complex inter-related matrix of

soils, plants, animals, implements, labour and capital, inter-

dependent farming enterprises.The farm is viewed in a holistic

manner (multi-disciplinary approach)

OBJECTIVES OF FSA

•To develop farm - household systems of rural communities

on a sustainable basis

•To improve efficiency in farm production

•To raise farm and family income

•To increase welfare of farm families and satisfy basic needs

•To develop farm – house hold systems and rural communities

on a sustainable basis

•To improve efficiency in farm production

•To raise farm and family income

•To increase welfare of farm families and satisfy basic needs.

Why Farming Systems Approach

DIFFERENT FARMING SYSTEMS

The following farm enterprises could be promoted

• Agri+ Livestock

• Agri + Livestock + Poultry

• Agri + Horticulture

• Agriculture (Rice) + Fish culture

• Agriculture (Rice) + Fish + Mushroom cultivation

• Agri + Fisheries + Duckery + Poultry etc.,

METHODOLOGY

I. Analysis of existing farming system

• Identification of major socio-economic situations

• Understanding dominant enterprises and most common farming systems

• Analysis of economic viability of existing farming systems

• Understanding relationship between different enterprises within the system

• Analysis of linkages between different farming systems

II. Understanding the modifications made in existing farming system by innovative farmers

• Understanding the changing scenario in ruralareas and its impact on existing farmingsystem

• Identification of new market opportunitiesand its impact and relevance to socio-economic situation

• Suitable modification made by innovativefarm families in existing farming system

• Type of modification made ( diversification orintensification of the enterprises)

III. New options recommended by the researchers

• Identification of new suggested options by researchers around each dominant enterprise

• Understanding the technological details about new options

Web Resources

1. Agri info.in

2. http://www.manage.gov.in/studymaterial/FSA-E.pdf