Participatory Natural Resource Management for enhancing Water Productivity in Drylands

Abstract

Climate variability is the major cause of in food production in the semi-arid tropical (SAT) regions of India leading to food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty. Although the total amount of rainfall in the SAT regions is adequate to meet the water requirements of the crops and cropping systems, its erratic distribution results in periods of excess and de water availability, leading to low productivity and degradation of natural resources. Therefore, an integrated water resources management approach comprising in-situ water conservation, harvesting of excess water in ponds and groundwater recharging and its e use through appropriate supplemental irrigation methods, improved crop varieties and cropping systems, balanced nutrition of crops, crop diversiication and intensi with high value crops and crop protection is needed to produce more food and income per unit of rainfall. The paper describes the achievements made by ICRISAT in collaboration with its partners in enhancing crop productivity and rainfall use e by implementing improved technologies in on-station and on-farm community watersheds in India.