ALTERNATE LAND-USE SYSTEMS IN RAIN-FED AREAS

Rainfed agriculture in India is now facing a dilemma. Prime lands for rainfed agriculture, which are mostly with big fanners, are being grad ually taken out of food crop cultivation for commercial cropping and e ven npn-arable systems. On tile other hand, demand for food and oilsee d crops are increasing due to rise in population. A large part of the available land with resource-poor farmers call ill-afford improved tec hnologies. Thus higher demands mean cultivation of less suitable lands with lesser returns and greater risk of land degradation. To tackle t he problem land users, at various levels, an to be made aware of the p roper use of their land resources. Providing the alternative for susta inable land uses should follow proper evaluation of tile land resource s. The land users are to be encouraged to participate in the whole exe rcise of land inventorization and evolution of an action plan for prop er use of their lands.