Director of Research University of Agriculture sciences GKVK, Bangalore-560065
Abstract
Not AvailableAgriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and rainfed agro-ecosystem occupies an
important place in Indian agriculture, covering 68 per cent of the cultivated area (96 m.ha)
supporting 40 per cent human, 60 per cent livestock population and producing 44 per cent of the
food requirements thus playing a pivotal role in India’s food security.
Five out of ten Agro-Climatic Zones in Karnataka were classified as dry zones covering
63 per cent of the total geographical area and 71 per cent of the net sown area, with substantial
contribution to agricultural production from dry lands. About 57 per cent of food grain production
in Karnataka comes from rainfed areas while, 97 per cent of total pulses and 80 per cent oilseeds
were produced in dry land areas.
Research on dryland agriculture in the red soil regions of Karnataka was started in 1970
with the establishment of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture
(AICRPDA) at Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK), Bangalore,Not Availabl