Cultivate Crops That Ask for No Water
Facing the prospect of future water scarcity, our community relies on cultivating traditional zero-irrigation crops to secure food and conserve precious resources.
By Sunil oraon, Farmer · Ranchi
Responds to — water scarcity
In our region, we tribal people have always known the land and its rhythms. We cultivate crops that require zero irrigation – pulses like pigeon pea, fish bean (machea), khesari, horse gram, and black gram, along with oilseeds such as Surguja. This practice is not just a choice; it's our way of life, especially as we look to the future. I worry that in the coming 20 years, there will be a significant shortage of water, and even forests and land will diminish. By focusing on these resilient crops, we ensure our food security and protect our resources, adapting to what the changing climate brings.
The recipe
Plant zero-irrigation crops like pulses and oilseeds to thrive despite water scarcity.
Zero irrigationWater conservationTraditional farmingFood securityClimate adaptationPulses and oilseeds
