Dryland farming has come to the rescue of drought-hit farmers of 22 villages in Gumla, courtesy agriculture scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at Gumla, 150 km from Ranchi. Scientists are advocating dryland farming across Bishunpur, Ghaghra, Gumla, Kamdara and Sisai blocks, distributing seeds that grow well in uplands. Farmers are sowing seeds of sweet potato, maize, lentils such as urad and kurthi, millets such as madua and gondli, oilseeds such as naizer and the like, crops which, unlike paddy, can flourish in minimum water.