Rought Anage Ent in Indian Rid Zone Dignataries at Th E Dms
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rought anage ent In Indian rid Zone Dignataries at th e dms. Drought Management ill ~ Indian Arid Zone ~ Editors Pratap Narain D. C. Joshi s. Kathju A. Kar Central Arid Zone Research Institute Jodhpur .. 342 003 October, 2002. Published by: Arid Agro-Ecosystem Director National Agriculture Technology Project, Central Arid Zone Research Institute Jodhpur-342003 Support: Bhupesh Vaid and Rishi Kala Printed at: Indian Tourism Publications, 743, Nehru Park, Jodhpur 342003 Foreword Drought is a recurring feature in aridregiol1 ofIndia. The drought of the year 2002 is unique and severest drought of the country in the sense that all the scientific and traditional predictions failed miserably. The region received only < 30 % of the mean annual rainfall in one or two spells of 10-20 rom each. This was insufficient for sowing of the kharif crops. Regeneration of grasses and has resulted in acute shortage of drinking water for human and livestock. Migration of livestock has started to the adjoining states, but the problem is compounded by insufficient or inordinate delayed rains in neighboring states. A contingency planning for kharifas well as for rabi crops was immediately rerquired particularly for arid regIOn. Since its inception, CAZRI has been engaged in developing technologies for drought proofing in the arid region. Techniques for wind erosion control, in situ moisture conservation, integrated nutrient and pest management, fanning systems involving agro~ forestry, agro-horticulture and silvi-pastoral have been evolved. Drought~tolerant genotypes of crops and perennial species have also been identified. The NATP programmes under Arid Agro-ecosystem is a forward step to strengthen the drought proofing of the arid region In order to consider suitable Sh011, medium and long-term strategies to combat droughts in the region, a brainstorming session on "Drought management: Contingency plaJll1ing" was organised by CAZRI on August, 20 and 21,2002. This volume is the outcome of that brainstorming session, and is a valuable document on the present drought scenario and possible interventions to overcome the effects of drought. I hope the recommendations of this brainstonning will be useful to all those concerned with the management of drought and contribute substantially to National Drought Policy_ Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education, and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi-ll0 001. Contents Welcome Pratap N arain I Introductory Remarks J. S. Samra IV Address on Behalf ofNATP S.L. Mehta V Address by Chief Guest Panjab Singh VIII Presidential Address Gaj Singhji XIV Vote of Thanks Gurbachan Singh XIX Discussion Papers Medium range weather forecasting for drought prediction - L.S. Rathore 1 Drought scenario in arid western Rajasthan - Pratap Narain and R.S. Singh 16 Contingency planning for drought - IS. Samra 30 Impact of delayed monsoon on kharifcrops in Haryana- Contingency Plan - B.S. Dahiya 68 Some considerations for drought management in Indian arid zone ~ A.S. Faroda 77 Crop management strategy under drought situation in Rajasthan - MP. Sahu, S.M. Kumawat and P.s. Rathore 81 Contingency planning for horticulture - D.G. Dhandhar 92 Contingency planning for livestock during drought in Rajasthan - YK. Singh 95 Greening Thar Desert through groundwater recharge ~ V.M. Sikka 104 Watershed management for mitigation of drought - KR. Dhandapani 108 Droughts: Economic dimensions - Mruthywyaya 118 Drought management strategy for Asia-Pacific: FAD initiative (with particular reference to India) - HP Singh and KD. Sharma 123 Recommendations 140 Appendices Contingency plan for drought in western Rajasthan: CAZRI 145 Participants Crop weather scenario-kharif 2002 - A. YR. Kesava Rao, G. Nageswara Rao, Y.S. Ramakrishna and G. G.S.N Rao 149 Drought Management in Indian Arid Zone Welcome Pratap Narain Director Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur Honourable Dr. Panjab Singh Sahib, Your Highness Shri Gaj Singh Sahib, Dr. J. S. Smma Sahib, Dr. S.L. Mehta Sahib, Dr. Gurbachan Singhji, Dr. I.P. Abrol Sahib, Distinguished Participants to the Brainstorming Session on Drought Management: Contingency Planning, Other Invited Guests, Members of the Press and other Media, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of all the staff members of Central Arid Zone Research Institute, and on my own behalfI extend to all of you a hearty welcome to OUI Institute. For delegates coming from outside of Jodhpur, I take this opportunity to welcome them to the Sun City ofJodhpur. It is my proud privilege to formally welcome the luminaries gracing the dais. I have immense pleasure in welcoming here today, our Chief Guest, Dr. Panjab Singh, who is Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education, Govt. of India, and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research. CAZRI was waiting so long with bated breath to greet one of its dearest and most illustrious family members, a benevolent elder brother, and the second successive Director General of ICAR from this family. Dr. Singh almost started his illustrious career from here at CAZRI, and was an immensely sought after Scientist, whether for his research achievements, management of the Institute affairs, bringing scientific results to the farming communities, or social activities. Although he left the institute about 15 years ago to take up responsibilities as Director of different research institutes, Vice Chancellor of an agricultural university, and finally as Director General of ICAR, he was never mentally far off from people who worked with him here, or who had even the slightest acquaintance with him. Sir, we are most beholden to you for your advice, guidance and for kindly accepting our invitation, in spite of your extremely busy programmes. My head bows naturally in obeisance while welcoming the President of this inaugural function, His Highness, Maharaja Gaj Singhji ofMarwar, Jodhpur. In many ways I Drought Management in Indian Arid Zone Jodhpur and Maharaja Gaj Singh have become synonymous. So varied are his philanthropic activities for the region, be that for drought relief, universal education, especially women's education, medical care and desert development, and so effective are the charitable trusts run by him that the vast populace of Marwar continues to have the same sense of belonging and respect for the Eton and Oxford educated Maharaja that they had for his royal ancestors. He is also actively involved in renovation of traditional water harvesting stmctures and siting of new ones with the NOOs, as well as development ofComrnon Property Resources through philanthropic and industrial houses. He is a great environmentalist, and is the most appropriate personality to preside over this function today. Sir, your gracious presence on this solemn occasion inspires us to rededicate ourselves to the cause of the society in its hour of need. I also extend a warm welcome to Dr. 1. S. Samra, Deputy Director General (NRM), lCAR, who also looks after our institute since taking over this onerous position two years back. A scientist of very higb calibre and an able administrator, Dr. Samra was previously Director of Central Soil and Water Conservation & Training Institute, Delua Dun, where I had the opportunity of working with him. He took keen interest in the holding of this Brain Storming Session, and guided us on every detail of its contingency plalUling for drought. We are sure, his deliberations during the session will provide us future directions in research on drought management. In welcoming Dr. S. L. Mehta, National Director, National Agricultural Technology Progranune (NATP), I feel more humbled before a renowned biochemist, who has a very bright academic record, and has contributed enormously to agricultural research. He was Head of Biochemistry Department, and then Dean and Joint Director of JARI, New Delhi. He was also Deputy Director General (Education), ICAR, before accepting his present position as National Director, NATP. Incidentally, this Brain Storming Session is being funded by NATP. Dr. Mehta took keen interest in holding of this session, and approved the needed funds forthwith. I shall fail in my duty if I do not extend a special welcome to Dr. LP. Abrol, our former Deputy Director General, and CUlTent Chairman of SAP (NATP), who was the chief initiator ofthis proposal to hold a session on drought. I also welcome Dr. Ourbachan Singh, II His Highness Gaj Singh ji lighting the wisdom lamp Welcome by Dr. Pratap Narain Drought Management in Indian Arid Zone Assistant Director General (Agro-forestry), ICAR, who worked with us almost incessantly during the planning stage ofthis session. This is, perhaps, not the best season to visit Jodhpur. For most researchers at CAZRI this is the busiest field season. Unfortunately, we have been struck by a very severe drought that may tum out to be the worst during the recorded history. Drought is no stranger to arid Rajasthan, but this time it has struck with a force that is rare. To give you some chilling figures, J odbpur has received only 19.8 mm ofrain from June to this day in August, this year. This value is far below the normal rainfall amount of212.4 mm for the same period. During the worst droughts of1911, 1955 and 1987 Jodhpur received slightly higher rainfall over the same period. Ifit does not rain within next two days, it will break the record oflowest rainfall for the period in 191.8. A feeling of being struck by the most severe drought in recorded history is gradually getting embossed in the mind of the local people. Fortunately, scientists, administrators, management experts and people at large are now better equipped to face the challenge. Although scientists of our institute and elsewhere are working for decades to find cost-effective technological solutions to mitigate the effects of drought, it is now time that we take urgent stock of our regions-specific research efforts and think ahead for suggesting more efficient contingency plan, drought early waming and management, and a national drought policy.