Alternate crops for risk minimization in rainfed agriculture

Abstract

Climate change, aberrant south-west monsoon behaviour, frequent droughts, excess rainfall events, multiple soil nutrient deficiencies and poor socio-economic settings are the principle constraints for low and unstable yields in rainfed areas. Aligning crop choices coping with weather aberrations, matching resource endowments and market demand are the key factors that help in risk  inimization and enhance production, productivity and profitability of the rainfed farmers. The network centres of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA) identified and demonstrated agroecology specific alternate crops. These crops at Ananthapramu and Ballowal Saunkhri region not only increased the productivity and profitability, but also helped to manage
weather aberrations and minimized risk.