Bhoochetana: Mission to Boost Productivity of Rainfed Agriculture through Science-led Interventions in Karnataka

Wani, S P; Wani, S P; Sarvesh, K V; Krishnappa, K; Dharmarajan, B K; Deepaja, S M

Bhoochetana: Mission to Boost Productivity of Rainfed Agriculture through Science-led Interventions in Karnataka

2012

Role and contribution of rainfed areas in food production has been quite significant. Eighty per cent of the cultivable area in the world and population is dependent on rainfed agriculture. Major share of food production ie., about 60% comes from rainfed agriculture. Area under rainfed agriculture in India is 85 million ha. contributing to 44% National food production. Similar situation more or less exists in Karnataka. Out of total cultivated area of 123.85 lakh ha., about 70% of the area is rainfed. Major rainfed crops of the State are jowar, ragi, maize, minor millets, groundnut, sunflower, soybean, tur, green gram, black gram, Bengal gram, and field bean etc. It has been observed that the average yields of these crops by and large in the State are less than the national average and also averages of other States. Further a wide gap exists in actual yield levels in the farmer’s field and yields of field level demonstrations. There is an opportunity to enhance yield levels in the fields of farmers by two to three folds through adoption of suitable improved dryland technologies for various crops. Based on the research findings of ICRISAT, Hyderabad, and demonstrations conducted under Sujala Watershed Programme; a set of dryland technologies have been identified by ICRISAT, Hyderabad for increasing yields to an extent of minimum 20%. Encouraged by this, and also with a view to enable farmers to get better yields in their fields, the Government of Karnataka initiated an novel scheme called Bhoochetana during 2009–10.......

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