A dimension within Water-Wise Agriculture
Discusses dry farming methods and the cultivation of seeds in arid conditions.
150 voices speak to this
Positive
Overall Community Sentiment
Yes, we practice zero-irrigation farming and also conserve seeds every year such as Kodo, Kutki, Madia, Ragi, Kulthi, Urad, Hirwa.
— Birohin · Mohla, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
We do farming without irrigation, such as barley and pulse varieties like 'baturi' and 'kerav'. Barley does not need water, and 'baturi' and 'kerav' are sown after the rice harvest and grow well. We also preserve their seeds, which are useful for sowing next year.
— Ram Kumari
We store moong pulse seeds using traditional methods and sow the seeds as a Rabi crop with zero irrigation after the Kharif season crop harvest.
— Ahalya Sahu · Kalahandi, Odisha
In our region, even without rain, we cultivate crops like moong, urad, and horse gram. We also preserve their seeds by mixing them with neem leaves.
— Kunakanta Behera · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha
Yes, we practice zero-irrigation farming and also conserve seeds annually, such as Kodo, Kutki, Madia, Jowar, and Bajra.
— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
Yes, we practice zero-irrigation farming and conserve seeds like millet, madia, ragi, kulthi, kodo, kutki.
— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
Yes, we cultivate a second crop without water. And farming is also done without water. We have collected and kept those seeds. And we will again plant that as a second crop.
— Ulapi Sahu
We have traditional seeds here like Saadia, paddy, pigeon pea, semi-native gourds, Karaiguta, Chipra, etc. We preserve these every year and cultivate them using old traditional methods without irrigation.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Another farming is barley cultivation done without water, and its seeds are also kept. This is our traditional farming, which is preserved every year for the purpose of sowing seeds.
— Ram Kumari
We do traditional farming. We save rain-fed seeds and cultivate crops like sorghum and chickpea.
— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Yes, we practice zero-irrigation farming and also conserve seeds. For example, horse gram, Kodo millet, little millet, finger millet, and black gram are zero-irrigation crops.
— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
Traditionally, we store our own moong seeds and sow them in the Rabi season, immediately after the Kharif season, even with zero irrigation.
— Lily Barik · Kalahandi, Odisha
Yes, we cultivate the second crop without water. And cultivation happens even without water. And we collect and store those seeds. And then again, we use that for the second crop.
— Ulapi Sahu · Patnāgarh, Balangir, Odisha
We cultivate seeds such as chickpea, lentil, mustard, and horse gram using traditional, possibly rain-fed, farming methods. We preserve these seeds and cultivate them using this traditional agricultural practice.
— Laxmi Sahu
Yes, we practice zero-irrigation farming every year and also conserve seeds for ourselves or for the village.
— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
We keep seeds of mustard, green gram, horse gram, tuber crops, black gram, and taro for cultivation without water.
— Puspanjali Nag
In our region, zero irrigation crops are sown, mainly pulses and oilseeds, and we practice traditional farming and conserve pulse seeds.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
I am doing dry farming and I will save seeds for next year.
— Bijayalaxmi sabar · Karnapadu, Rayagada, Odisha
They cultivate Botra Tivra using zero irrigation and preserve its seeds for the next year.
— MANNOO LAL BHOI
Yes, we preserve traditional seeds and sow them. This helps during the harvest season for the Rabi crop. It is also beneficial even without irrigation.
— Santosh Barik · Narala, Kalahandi, Odisha
Yes, we grow a second crop without irrigation and also maintain old traditional seeds according to customary methods.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
We farm at our home and manage our household with it. We cultivate pigeon pea and other pulses with low water, and also sow barley. These require less water, and we also save them for the next year. This way, we preserve the seeds.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Yes, we also grow other crops without irrigation using traditional methods, which we call 'unhari' crops. We also store their seeds using traditional methods.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
We cultivate green gram without water. The government had provided green gram seeds for one year, and we will keep those seeds to cultivate green gram every year.
— Kusha Mahakud
Yes, we cultivate dryland crops such as madiya, kodo, and kutki in our region, and we also conserve seeds for every year.
— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
We cultivate zero-input crops like chickpeas, flaxseed, and pigeon pea. Even with less water, the crops ripen, and their seeds are also collected. Narayan Lal Baranda.
— narayanlalbaranda5@gmail.com · Jhapa, Dungarpur, Rajasthan
Yes, we do a second crop with zero irrigation and follow traditional farming as well as seed preservation.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
We sow seeds without water and harvest seeds.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Lamingi, Rayagada, Odisha
Yes, we grow zero-irrigation crops and also conserve seeds. Every year, we plant zero-irrigation crops.
— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
Immediately after the Kharif cultivation, we cultivate pulse crops like moong (green gram) in the Rabi season. This is done with zero irrigation, using seeds that we have saved beforehand.
— Santosh Barik · Narala, Kalahandi, Odisha
We preserve our own seeds and cultivate mustard, growing this rabi crop without water and without chemical fertilizers.
— Laxmi Bagh · Karamdihi, Sundargarh, Odisha
Yes, we used to cultivate and are still cultivating moong, urad, chana, masoor, and other seeds with zero irrigation. And more profit.
— Naukeshi Sahu
We sow with great effort without irrigation, and cultivate crops by plowing with oxen and a plow. We save seeds for many years, which come in handy.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
I am cultivating without water. I will save seeds for the next rain.
— Bijayalaxmi sabar · Khilapadar, Rayagada, Odisha
I am cultivating without water. I will save seeds for the next rain.
— Bijayalaxmi sabar · Khilapadar, Rayagada, Odisha
Yes, we used to cultivate and are still cultivating moong, urad, chana, masoor seeds etc. with zero irrigation and are getting more profit.
— Naukeshi Sahu · Kalahandi, Odisha
Yes, we do zero irrigation farming and also do seed conservation.
— Kekti Tekam · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
Our ancestors used to cultivate pulses as a second crop using organic methods without irrigation. I also cultivate every year using this method by storing black gram and horse gram seeds.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
I cultivate pulse crops without irrigation. We save pulse seeds, among which horse gram, black gram, and pigeon pea are the oldest varieties. We save these seeds for cultivation every year. Our ancestors used to cultivate using manure and traditional ploughs.
— DASHARATH SINGH
We cultivate zero-irrigation crops, including pulses and oilseeds, and also conserve them, as they are part of our heritage.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.

After the main harvest, we harness the land's natural moisture to cultivate a vital second crop, ensuring food and oil for our families.

By carefully collecting and preserving seeds from our first harvest, we ensure a second, nutritious crop and maintain our traditional farming methods for generations.

Facing the prospect of future water scarcity, our community relies on cultivating traditional zero-irrigation crops to secure food and conserve precious resources.

Even without irrigation, our traditional seeds and old farming methods ensure our crops ripen, providing food for our homes.