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Making the best use of available moisture is the key aspect of the strategy for getting good rabi crops in rainfed areas. In view of this the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) has issued detailed advisories for different areas of the country to guide farmers about the agricultural practices that should be adopted in rainfed areas.
Based on weather conditions and pest prevalence in different parts of the country these advisories are being regularly updated. The extension network of ICAR, agricultural universities and Kisan Call Centres are being used to reach farmers. Local radio stations and Doordarshan kendras are also being requested to carry these advisories in their agricultural programmes.
Though the recommendations are crop and region specific, in broad terms the emphasis is on conserving soil moisture. The advice includes zero tillage (that is, least disturbance of soil for sowing) and less use of fertlisers, dry sowing of seeds or sowing after soaking seeds overnight, growing less moisture-demanding and salt-tolerant crops, and spraying anti- transpirants on horticultural plants.
Special advisories are also being issued for areas where flood water has started receding of late.
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