GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO: 272

ANSWERED ON:08.12.2009

RAINFED AREAS 

(a)the details of the rainfed areas in the country, State-wise;

(b)whether production and productivity in rainfed areas is low in comparison to the irrigated areas;

(c)if so, the details thereof; and

(d)the corrective measures being taken to increase the production and productivity in rainfed areas by developing irrigation and water harvesting system? 

ANSWER

 MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)

(a) to (d):A statement is laid on the Table of the House. STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS

(a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.272 DUE FOR REPLY ON 08-12-2009.

(a):The net sown area in the country is about 140.30 million ha of which 60.86 million ha area is covered under irrigation and the remaining 79.44 million ha is rainfed. The State-wise extent of net sown area and rainfed area is annexed.

(b):Yes, Madam. There is a difference in rate of productivity of crops under rainfed and irrigated condition. The productivity of rainfed area is about 1 tonne / ha which is much less than the irrigated areas. The rainfed areas contribute to about 40% of the food production of the country.

(c):Yield of principal crops under irrigated and un-irrigated conditions, is as under:

 (d):Government has accorded very high priority to the holistic and sustainable development of rainfed areas through integrated watershed management approach. More thrust is given for in-situ moisture conservation and rain water harvesting under watershed interventions. Following major schemes are being implemented by Government to enhance soil and water conservation. Ministry of Agriculture

(i)National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA)

(ii)Soil Conservation for enhancing productivity of degraded lands in the catchments of River Valley Projects and Flood Prone River (RVP & FPR)

(iii)Watershed Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas (WDPSCA) Ministry of Rural Development

(iv)Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)

 Government of India has established the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) to address various problems of farming in the rainfed areas and to ensure a coordinated strategy for development of rainfed areas. Under the programmes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission, Micro Irrigation, National Horticulture Mission also, special focus is given to rainfed areas for improving the production and productivity.

Water being a State subject under the Constitution, schemes for development of irrigation are conceived, planned and implemented by the respective State Governments as per their own priorities. The Government of India encourages the State Governments to create additional irrigation potential through early completion of the ongoing major and medium irrigation projects and taking up surface minor irrigation schemes by providing grants under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)