Agriculture, Dryland Farming and Drought in Telangana

6.1–6.2 Where farming happens and why

• Climate, soils, relief and water set the broad pattern of farming on the Telangana plateau.
• Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University divides the State into three agro-climatic zones: Northern, Central and Southern.

6.3–6.5 Rainfed and dryland farming

• Rainfed farming depends on rain rather than assured irrigation; dryland farming is rainfed farming under moisture stress.
• Rainfall falls from the north-east to the south-west, so moisture-limited farming is strongest in the south.
• Cotton, pulses, soybean, maize and groundnut each follow particular soils and seasons.

6.6–6.7 Drought and vulnerability

• Meteorological, agricultural and hydrological drought are different stages of a water shortage.
• A drought-prone area is a long-term pattern; a drought year is a single event.
• Low and variable rain, shallow soils and groundwater stress combine to make farming vulnerable.

6.8–6.9 Reducing the risk

• Soil-moisture conservation, watershed treatment, suitable crops and supplemental water reduce drought risk.
• Physical conditions and human choices together decide the cropping pattern.

6.10 Map practice

• Locate the zones, the dryland south, the black-soil crop belt and the climate-vulnerable districts.