Study on Crop Diversification Based on Long Term Rain Fall Analysis of Dry Farming Tracts in Southern India

Abstract

This study was conducted based on 30 years of rainfall data from 1985 to 2015 from the regions of semiarid districts of Karnataka, Telangana and Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh states to recommend the alternate crops. This is based on the rainfall variability and potential evapotranspiration (PET) in kharif and rabi seasons. Moisture-sensitive crops, especially rice, sugarcane and banana must be taken in high rainfall areas and low moisture-sensitive crops can go at the time of rainfall shortages and vice versa to avoid farm risk at farm level and optimizing production. The crops which are suggested based on rainfall and PET can thrive well, grow very efficiently and give reasonable yields to farmers under limited rainfall situations and these are of drought-tolerant and drought resistant and short-duration types.  In the rabi season, most of these regions received less rainfall (<200 mm), particularly in Telangana and the North interior Karnataka regions. Under this situation, avoiding more water demanded crops like cotton and sunflower crops. Instead of these crops, less water required short -duration and drought tolerant Bengal gram and Cowpea crops were suggested. These crops can survive well and give good optimum yields without crop failures.