Draw-down Cultivation in Submerged Area of Upper Krishna Project in Karnataka: An Innovative Avenue for Enhancing Farmers’ Incomes

Cultivation of the crops in the submerged area during summer months is an age-hold practice but draw-down area (DDA) is not being utilized judiciously. Considering the importance of draw-down cultivation, this paper illustrates the benefits of draw-down cultivation, constraints and their addressal with respect to Almatti reservoir under Upper Krishna Project (UKP) in Karnataka. As summer starts, the water in the reservoir starts receding and the availability of cultivable land area increases. From January to June the cultivation of crops suitable to the soil type and climate could be planned in this submerged area. Some of the improved varieties of short-duration crops, viz. fodder sorghum, fodder bajra, fodder cowpea, grain cowpea, green gram and vegetables have been recommended for this area. The percentage change in net returns has shown and increasing trend between 200809 and 2015–16. The cultivation of short-duration and high-yielding varieties of selective crops could help in obtaining the multiple crops in a single draw-down period (DDP), which will help in increasing farmers’ income.