Operational Research in Rainfed Agroecosystem Redefine new vision through Action Research

Abstract

Concernedbythewideningproductivitygapbetweenirrigatedandrainfedregionsfollowingthegreenrevolution,the IV Five Year Plan(1969-74)emphasizedtheurgentneedtofocusonthehithertoneglectedfarmersoftherainfedregionsto participatemeaningfullyinthedevelopmentprocess.ThedroughtsofmidsixtiescatalyzedtheGovt.toinvestondryland research significantly. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR) launched the dryland research projects the All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture(AICRPDA)in 1970 in collaboration with the Government of CanadathroughCanadianInternational Development Agency (CIDA).AICRPDA started with few network centres with coordinating cell at Hyderabad,Andhra Pradesh.In1985,Project Directorate was upgraded to the status of an institute i.e.Centralinstitutei.e.CentralResearchInstituteforDrylandAgriculture(CRIDA)at Hyderabadtocarryoutbasicand strategicresearchwhilenetworkresearchunderAICRPDAumbrellacontinuedin applied and adaptive research mode. Another significant milestone was the start of the Operational Research Project(ORP)in 1974-75 by AICRPDA at few centres with further expansions in 1976,1980 and 1984 to total of eightcenters.TheconceptofOperationalResearch Project(ORP)wasatrustedfeedbacktotheresearchsystemonadoptabilityofdrylandtechnologiesbyfarmersasawing to selected centres with a CID A financial support.ORP was recommended as an integral part of the existing dryland research center with the specific objectives of OR Pstotest,adoptand demonstrate the new agriculturalte chnologieson farmers'fieldsinawholevillageorinaclusteroffewcontiguousvillages!watershedareas,toidentify the constraints both technological nd socio-economic which are barriers to rapid change;and to demonstrate group action as a method of popularizingmodemtechnologiesatafasterrate.ORPwithitsfeedbackstrategycanhaveastronginfluenceonmaintaining a relevantresearchprogram. In future,nearly 45-50%of the total cultivable are a will remain rain dependent,per capital and availability is likely to go down to less than 0.5 haby 2025 resultinginoperationalholdingsinmajorityoftherainfedregionsturninguneconomical. Further,climatevariabilityandnaturalresourcedegradationissues,needfor increasingwater.productivityandsustaining the livelihoods of the rainfed farmers,necessitatea paradigm shift in the approach of ORPs.Considering the yield gaps between research stations,on farm trial sand farmer fields,there is anamples cope for enhancing the yield levels with appropriate policy and institutiona support.It requires well-orchestrated efforts in the research front backed by sound policiesandenabledinstitutions.TheORPprogramshouldbe inclose collaboration with there spective main centers, state line departments, KVKs ,ATMANGOs etc.for programme planning,implementation,capacity building and in convergence with the ongoing Central and StateGovt .schemes likeNREGS,NHM,ISOPOM,NFSMetc.for upscaling andscalingoutthetestedtechnologies.Hence,theapproachshouldbeParticipatoryActionResearch. This publication on Operational Research in Rainfed Agroecosystem- Redefiniga new vision through Action Research, whichisanoutcomeoftheICARadhocproject,hassucessfullybroughtouttheimportanceof capacitybuildingofORPs with approaches on problem identification, developmentandimplementationofactionplaninvolvingthemaincentersand primary and secondary stakeholders.I compliment Dr.G.RavindraChary and all other associates for their best efforts in bringing out this useful publication.