Retd. Director, Research Services, J.N.K.V.V. 108, Balwant Nagar, Gwalior, 474002 (M.P.)
Online published on 24 July, 2012.
The green revolution started in 1967–68 was limited to such irrigaged areas where irrigation did not depend on the rainfall. Only a few years later, the green revolution became dependent on vagaries of monsoon, and it was clear that the impact of green revolution would be left only when it took over vast rainfed areas of the country. fortunately, seventy percent of the total area of our country receives 750 mm or higher average annual rainfall. Indo-British Operational Research Project, Indore (M.P.), which operated on farmer's fields during 1974–79, demonstrated successfully that of 700 mm or more of rainfall received annually was appropriately managed on watershed basis, not only a bumper kharif crop could be raised but a second crop in rabi could also be grown selecting a proper crop and its variety, recycling the stored run off water, and adopting improved package of practices for crop production. This will lead to high and stable crop yields and higher cropping intensity and that too on sustainable basis as problems of soil erosion water logging, soil salinity and alkalinity, loss of soil-fertility etc. will be avoided. Of cours, the most important part of the appropriate management of rainwater is collection and recycling of run-off water making the surplus water available when needed (for life saving irrigation to kharif crop or for pre-sowing irrigation to rabi crop). Thus, appropriate management of rainwater alone can lead to green revolution rather evergreen revolution over vast rainfed areas.
