Waterless wheat makes central India 's farmers smile - Savvy Soumya Mishra Time was when Malwa, a region spanning central India , grew wheat that required no irrigation. What it required instead was careful nurturing of the soil to retain its moisture. That was then. Soil preparation began months in advance; chemical fertilizers were unknown and green mulch was the principal soil nutrient. All that changed with the Green Revolution. The indigenous varieties of the area gave way to high yield hybrid strands that required five to seven rounds of irrigation and a good amount of chemical fertilizers. The cost of these inputs kept increasing, which the farmers of the Malwa region could afford less and less. Finding it increasingly difficult to manage the economics of food production, Soji Ram took a risk. Soji Ram is a Barera tribal from Madhya Pradesh's Katkut village in Khargon district. He took the risk more out of compulsion than as a result of any calculation. Soji Ram sowed Amrita wheat in the beginning of rabi season last year; it is a contemporary version of the indigenous Malwi strand, over 0.3-hectare (ha) last rabi season. Amrita has been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at its Indore wheat research station. Amrita does not need much soil preparation; what it needs is only two rounds of irrigation. Other farmers in Soji Ram's village, including his brothers, sowed the hybrid Lok1 variety. All of them never missed an opportunity to tell him that he was being foolhardy. After all, he was going by the word of just one person: Rahul Banerjee of the Khedut Mazdoor Chetna Sangath, an NGO working with farmers in the region. Soji Ram dedicated half his farm to this new seed. He was willing to try it out because low irrigation requirements made it more affordable than Lok1 wheat that needed at least five rounds for a decent harvest. The harvest was far from decent this year for most farmers in Khargon. Only Soji Ram had something to smile about. He harvested 300 kg of wheat from 30 kg of seed on his 0.3-ha field. "Soji Ram got the output from a single round of irrigation. Another round could have fetched him 450-600 kg of wheat," says Banerjee. Malwa's soil is fertile, but the climate is dry here. The region's underlying basaltic, non-porous rock structure does not allow the soil to get recharged. That is why traditionally, Malwa farmers depended on non-irrigated wheat varieties like Malwi, Pissi and Sarbati. The Green Revolution brought in hybrid varieties such as WH 147 and Lok1. These crops can yield up to 5,000 kg of wheat per hectare, but require five to seven rounds of irrigation and a great deal of chemical fertilizers. "Insufficient irrigation has lowered the production of Lok1 to 2,500 kg a ha in Malwa," says Banerjee. "Groundwater is our only source of water. As supply of electricity is erratic and inadequate and costs high, we are unable to irrigate our fields as much as we should. The losses therefore are enormous," says Deep Singh, a farmer from the neighbouring Dewas district. "There is an urgent need to shift to more sustainable wheat varieties like Amrita that can withstand water scarcity," says Banerjee. "With one irrigation and by using biofertilizers alone, Amrita can yield over 3,000 kg a ha. If one calculates savings in terms of water and improved soil quality, it is a better option for farmers in arid regions." Deep Singh agrees. "Last season when I wanted to sow Amrita, no one in my village supported my decision since it costs Rs 1,500-Rs 1,600 per 100 kg-more than the highly subsidized hybrid wheat varieties. But considering the profit margin, I will definitely go for Amrita this time," he says. Singh lost the entire crop on his 212-ha farm due to poor irrigation. Last year, Banerjee could persuade only Soji Ram and two other farmers from neighbouring districts to opt for Amrita. As they reaped a good harvest this year, more farmers made up their mind to follow their example. Nobody thinks it is foolhardy anymore. -Down To Earth Feature