SURINDER SUD The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) has come out with an elaborate strategy to make use of the late monsoon rains for compensatory crop production to offset part of the anticipated loss in kharif harvest. The authority involves sowing of pre-rabi crops in the areas which have remained unsown or have suffered irretrievable damage due to late revival of the monsoon, and timely planting of the main rabi crops to ensure optimum yields. Besides, it has also suggested measures to conserve rainwater in the underground aquifer through water recharge and in ponds and tanks for use in future. Even late and deficient monsoon usually generates between 11 and 37 per cent spare water, which flows down wastefully. This can be saved and stored by digging farm-level ponds and tanks, NRAA has pointed out. "The immediate priority should be to maximise the crop yields in the areas which have received good rains. This can be done by ensuring adequate supplies of inputs and facilitating proper protection of crops against pests and diseases," NRAA chief J S Samra told Business Standard. He also suggested growing crops like toria (oilseed) and fodder in the pre-rabi season by utilizing the moisture added to the soil by the recent widespread rains in most parts of the country. "Priority should be to grow fodder crops of jowar, bajra and the like, because fodder is likely to be in short supply in the post-monsoon period this year. These crops can be harvested any time to vacate the land for timely planting of regular rabi crops," Samra said. In eastern states, where groundwater is available in abundance, 'Boro paddy' (post-kharif crop) should be encouraged to compensate for the loss in kharif rice output. "Though this is a long-duration crop and needs irrigation, its productivity is usually to 2 to 3 times higher than that of the regular kharif paddy," he pointed out. Boro paddy can be grown in states like West Bengal, Orissa, Assam and others. Digging of wells should be taken up on a large scale in these states. Cultivation of maize in the winter season should be encouraged, as it has the potential to produce up to 6 tonnes of grains per hectare, against the normal 2 to 3 tonnes in the main kharif season. This will augment the supply of maize, whose output may drop this year because of less sowing in the current kharif season. "NRAA has identified about 100 districts in various states which are suited for growing rabi (winter) maize. But the government would have to offer price support to maize through public procurement, as is done in the case of rice and wheat," Samra asserted. Anticipating inadequate refilling of water in reservoirs despite the belated surge in monsoon, NRAA has suggested rescheduling of release of water from canals for irrigation. "The farms at the tail-end of the irrigation channels do not usually get adequate water. This problem should be addressed on a priority basis," he said. In the areas where ground water has been over-exploited, the use of drip and sprinkler systems should be encouraged to economise on water use.