This document discusses dry land and farming systems approach (FSA) in India. It begins by noting that about 50% of India's cropped area is rain-fed agriculture due to limited irrigation. Productivity is low on these dry lands due to poor management. It then defines dry land farming as areas receiving less than 750mm of rainfall annually without irrigation. Dry land crops must complete their lifecycle without water. The document contrasts dry land and rain-fed farming and lists characteristics of dry land areas. It describes FSA as a multi-disciplinary approach that views farms holistically to improve production, income, and farmer welfare through sustainable systems. The objectives and methodologies of FSA are outlined, including analyzing existing systems and new options

1. Course: B.Sc. Agriculture
Subject: Basic of Agriculture
Unit :3
Dry land and FSA

2. Indian agriculture is traditionally a system of Rain fed
agriculture. Considering the present rate of development of irrigation
facilities and also water potentiality of the country, express estimate that at
any point of time 50% of cropped area in India will remain under Rain fed
farming system.
Such vast areas as of now consume hardly 25% of total
fertilizer consumption of the country. Due to poor level of management,
crop productivity is also very low resulting in socio - economic
backwardness of the people.
Dry Land Farming

3. Dry lands:
Areas which receive an annual rainfall of 750 mm
or less and there is no irrigation facility for raising crops.
Dry land Agriculture:
Scientific management of soil and crops under dry
lands with out irrigation is called dry land agriculture.
Dry land crops:
It refers to all such crops which are drought
resistant and can complete their life cycle without irrigation in areas
receives an annual rainfall less than 750 mm.
Drought:
It is an condition of insufficient moisture supply to
the plants under which they fail to develop and mature properly. If
may be caused by soil, atmosphere or both.

4. Dry farming :
In the country with low and precarious rainfall two types agricultures
are usually met, one crop production on aerable farming land other animal
husbandry, including management of grazing areas.
Definiuons:
The different definitions of dry farming given by various express are
described below.
1. Dry farming is an improved system of cultivation in which
maximum amount of moisture is conserved in low and untimely rainfall for
the production of optimum Quantities of crop on economic and sustames
basis.

5. 2. Dry farming in short, is a programme of soil and water
management designed to conserve the maximum quantity of
water on a particular piece of land.
3. Dry farming is the profitable production of useful crops
without irrigation on land that receive annually a rainfall of
500 mm or less.
By Anonymous
4. In a more specific way dry farming may be defined as an
efficient system of soil and crop management in the regions of
low land and uneven distributed rainfall.
By Anonymous

6. Dry land Vs Rainfed farming.
Constituents Dryland farming Rainfed farming
1. Rainfall (mm) < 750 >750
2. Moisture Shortage Enough / Sufficient
3. Growing season <200 >200
4. Growing regions Arid and Semiarid & up lands
of sub humid & humid regions.
Humid and sub
humid regions.
5. Cropping system Single crop or
intercropping
Intercropping or
double cropping.
6. Constraints Wind and water erosion Water erosion.

7. Dry land areas may be characterized by the following features
1.uncertain, ill-.distributed and limited annual rainfall;
2. occurrence of extensive climatic hazards like drought, flood etc;
3. undulating soil surface;
4. occurrence of extensive and large holdings;
5. practice of extensive agriculture i.e. prevalence of monocropping
etc;
6. relatively large size of fields;
7. similarity in types of crops raised by almost all the farmers of a
particular region;
8. very low crop yield;
9. poor market facility for the produce;
10. poor economy of the farmers; and
11. poor health of cattle as well as farmers.

8. FARMING SYSTEMS APPROACH (FSA)
Farming system is a complex inter-related matrix of
soils, plants, animals, implements, labour and capital, inter-
dependent farming enterprises.The farm is viewed in a holistic
manner (multi-disciplinary approach)

9. OBJECTIVES OF FSA
•To develop farm - household systems of rural communities
on a sustainable basis
•To improve efficiency in farm production
•To raise farm and family income
•To increase welfare of farm families and satisfy basic needs

10. •To develop farm – house hold systems and rural communities
on a sustainable basis
•To improve efficiency in farm production
•To raise farm and family income
•To increase welfare of farm families and satisfy basic needs.
Why Farming Systems Approach

11. DIFFERENT FARMING SYSTEMS
The following farm enterprises could be promoted
• Agri+ Livestock
• Agri + Livestock + Poultry
• Agri + Horticulture
• Agriculture (Rice) + Fish culture
• Agriculture (Rice) + Fish + Mushroom cultivation
• Agri + Fisheries + Duckery + Poultry etc.,

12. METHODOLOGY
I. Analysis of existing farming system
• Identification of major socio-economic situations
• Understanding dominant enterprises and most
common farming systems
• Analysis of economic viability of existing farming
systems
• Understanding relationship between different
enterprises within the system
• Analysis of linkages between different farming
systems

13. II. Understanding the modifications made in
existing farming system by innovative farmers
• Understanding the changing scenario in rural
areas and its impact on existing farming
system
• Identification of new market opportunities
and its impact and relevance to socio-
economic situation
• Suitable modification made by innovative
farm families in existing farming system
• Type of modification made ( diversification or
intensification of the enterprises)

14. III. New options recommended by the
researchers
• Identification of new suggested options
by researchers around each dominant
enterprise
• Understanding the technological details
about new options

15. Web Resources
1. Agri info.in
2. http://www.manage.gov.in/studymaterial/FSA-E.pdf