• Cultivated Area: In Telangana, 85% of the total cultivated area is under dryland cultivation, and 63% of crops are rainfed.

Measures to be Taken for Dryland Farming in Telangana

• Drought-Resistant Crops: Developing and adopting drought-resistant crop varieties is essential.
• Soil Erosion: Soil erosion is a common issue in dryland areas, which can be managed through forestry and pasture management with controlled grazing.
• Technology Adaptation: Dryland farming provides the majority of India’s protein needs, and it is important to adopt technologies from countries like Israel with extensive experience in dryland farming.
• Agronomic Methods: Proper tillage, timing of sowing, fertilizer management, double cropping, and alley cropping should be practiced, along with weed control and plant protection measures.

Government Initiatives Supporting Dryland Farming in Telangana

• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): A mission aimed at addressing climate change challenges, part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• Sub-Mission on Agroforestry: Launched in 2016-17, this initiative under the NMSA promotes agroforestry for sustainable farming systems.
• National Agroforestry Policy (2014): Focuses on creating synergy and coordination among various agroforestry programs across government missions and schemes.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Introduced in 2015 with the goal of providing comprehensive irrigation solutions, ensuring water supply to every farm.
• Agriculture Contingency Plan: Developed by CRIDA and ICAR in partnership with state agricultural institutions to address drought, floods, and other extreme events affecting crops and livestock.
• International Year of Millets (2023): Proposed by the Government of India to the United Nations to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets to boost domestic and global demand for nutritional millets.