1.6. Type of Farming (On Basis of Moisture for crops)

On the basis of main source of moisture for crops, the farming can be classified as irrigated farming and rainfed farming (barani). Irrigated farming can be further sub-divided into protective farming or productive farming. Protective irrigation farming is to protect the crops from adverse effects of soil moisture deficiency i.e. irrigation acts as a supplementary source of water over and above the rainfall. Whereas productive irrigation farming is meant to provide sufficient soil moisture in the cropping season to achieve high productivity. In such irrigation the water input per unit area of cultivated land is higher than protective irrigation.

Rainfed farming is further classified on the basis of adequacy of soil moisture during cropping season into dryland and wetland farming. . In wetland farming, the rainfall is in excess of soil moisture requirement of plants during rainy season. These areas grow various water intensive crops such as rice, jute and sugarcane. The dryland farming is largely confined to the regions having annual rainfall less than 75 cm. These regions grow hardy and drought resistant crops such as Ragi, Bajra, Moong, Gram and Guar (fodder crops) and practise various measures of soil moisture conservation and rain water harvesting.

Chief Features of Dryland Farming are:

1. The techniques of rainwater harvesting are practised.It helps to reduce the gap of dryness between two rainfall periods.

2. Excess rainfall than needed is allowed to seep underground. It helps in water

conservation.

3. Soil and water are the two main resources of dryland farming.

4. On account of long periods of aridity soil erosion sets in.

5. On account of destruction of humus in the top layer the soils become unproductive and infertile.

6. Only very poor farmers practice dryland farming. These persons account of lack of funds, are unable to access irrigation and invest in soil fertility.

7. To supplement income animal husbandry is practised.

8. On account of pressure of population grazing lands are is becoming less and less.