Ooty: Scientists attached to the ICAR Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation Research Centre (IISWC) here coached farmers in rain-fed agriculture technologies and water conservation methods for the regions.
IISWC-Ooty organised a special demonstration programme on improved crop production under rain-fed conditions through the distribution of improved seed variety of Bengal gram to resource poor farmers.
As part of the programme, 75 Scheduled Caste farmers from Bendarawadi village, Gundlupet taluk, in Karnataka, on the Nilgiris border in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve limits, were provided with improved variety seeds of Bengal gram (Jaki-9218), covering approximately 30 hectares of cultivated area.
The initiative aimed to promote improved crop varieties and sustainable agricultural practices to enhance productivity and farm income under rain-fed conditions.
This region received about 100 mm rainfall in the last one week. Distribution of improved seed variety of Bengal gram doubly benefits farmers if they took up timely sowing in the rain-fed areas.
Dr. Somasundaram Jayaraman, principal scientist and head of IISWC-Ooty, highlighted the importance of adopting suitable soil and water conservation measures and sustainable soil health management practices in rain-fed agriculture which is a type of agricultural practice that entirely banks on natural rainfall for watering and irrigation with almost no artificial irrigation systems in the vicinity.
He emphasised measures such as field bunding, micro-irrigation and conservation tillage for efficient soil and water resource management.
Dr. H.C. Hombe Gowda, senior scientist, explained the recommended agronomic practices and improved cultivation techniques for Bengal gram to enhance crop establishment and productivity.
Dr. S.M. Vanitha, senior scientist, highlighted the importance of efficient resource utilisation to maximise returns from Bengal gram cultivation under rain-fed agricultural conditions.
The event aimed to promote sustainable rain-fed agriculture, strengthening the livelihood of resource-constrained farming communities and enhancing the productivity and profitability of farming through the dissemination of improved agricultural technologies, Dr. Somasundaram explained.
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