Dryland agriculture in south asia: Experiences, challenges and opportunities

Abstract

South Asia, comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is the most densely populated geographical region in the world and is home to more than one-fifth of the world’s population. Most of the land (about three-fifths of the cropped area) in these countries is rainfed, which means that the economy of South Asia hinges on the annual success of their monsoons. The biggest challenges for dryland agriculture in the region are the declining natural resource base, climate change, and food and nutritional insecurity. The management of natural resources in dryland areas is critical not only because the livelihoods of millions of rural poor are directly connected to these regions but also because these areas will continue to play a crucial role in determining food security for the growing population and in reducing poverty in the coming decades. New opportunities lie in the knowledge-based management of natural resources, agricultural intensification, and adaptations to climate change, technology sharing, institutional innovations and improved intra-regional trade.