Background

A large portion of the rainfed areas (65 % of arable land) in India is characterized by low productivity, high risk and uncertainty, low level of technological change and vulnerability to degradation of natural resources. The region houses a sizable number of unemployed, poverty-stricken and undernourished population. This region is underdeveloped due to extreme seasonal fluctuations, weather and market uncertainties and highly unstable income. The majority (about 70%) of the population in the region is dependent on agriculture. Ironically, the rainfed areas were bypassed with respect to investment on infrastructure and technology intervention as compared to irrigated areas because investments were supposed to be less productive. Policy initiatives were inappropriate, lethargic and often unattended for this vulnerable region. Such a scenario has impeded the growth performance of the rainfed areas as compared to irrigated agriculture. Water is critical for rainfed areas because of scarcity and also lack of proper management that accelerates shortages. Broadly, rainfed areas are confronted with two major technical and water-related problems: 1. Heavy and intense rainfall and surface runoff during the monsoons leading to soil erosion and siltation or pollution of water bodies downstream; an