Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
RK Prajapati, BS Kirar, Jaipal Chhigarha, Shivam Mishra and Mahak Khatri

Abstract:
The impact of climate change is evidently visible in Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Climate change has hit the agriculture-based livelihoods and food grain production in the Bundelkhand districts has decreased by 58%. Bundelkhand is a problem region due to extremely rainfall events, prolonged dry spells, early with drawl monsoon or late commencement of monsoon, uneven rain fall distribution and at different crop growth stages. Drought condition, low rainfall, hot climate, arid and ravine lands, low quality in irrigation in term of sustainability and the availability of water resources. Defunded old water storage bodies resulted to reduction of ground water level and nondiscretionary use of water really lead to low agriculture crop productivity. All these realities were evidently showing that Bundelkhand is still facing the grave tragedy of drought. The major Kharif crops-soybean, black gram and sesame cropped area come under rainfed cultivation which was observed the failure of crops due to uncertain rainfall. While the Rabi crops like wheat, mustard and chickpea were depending up on the rain amount of Kharif due to ensure the availability of irrigation water. The soil like light, medium is the sharing 75% part which are not suitable for high value cropping as well as farming system due to low water and nutrients holding habits. The 75% farmers were under marginal, small which were not having agriculture implements and did traditional cultivation. National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) was a network project. The project aims to enhance resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and climate vulnerability through strategic research and technology demonstration. The KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) Tikamgarh (M.P.) was implemented the NICRA project through adaptive village -Kanti of district-Tikamgarh which situated under Bundelkhand Agro-climatic zone of Madhya Pradesh. The farmers were grown major crops failed or damaged 90-100% due to climatic hazards. There was a need for resilient practice i.e. short duration, drought resistant crops varieties, low water requirement crops, low cost cultivation and high value crop. The project of DBT was launched with convergence of IIIM, Jammu. Under the project, the lemongrass (Cymbopogon pdendulus) variety CPK-25 and rosagrass (Cymbopogon khasianus) variety CK-10 cultivation were promoted in light to medium soil of 25-farmer field as demonstrations. Two oil extortion plants were also established for oil extraction, each demonstration was conducted in one-acre area with 3-4 slips planted at one spot at a spacing of 40X 40 cm in Oct-Nov., 2020, The basal dose of 40 kg/ha phosphorus and 40 kg/ha potash were applied before the plantation. Nitrogen at the rate of 80 kg/ha were given in the split dose at sufficient moisture stage of the crop. First harvesting was taken after 145-180 days of planting i.e. June 2021. The crop yield 17-18 tone/ha herbage, 75-90 kg/of oil with net profit from Rs. 75000 to 90,000/ha in lemon grass was obtained while in rosa grass the crop yield was 50-55 tone/ha of fresh herbage with 130-180 kg/ha oil. The net profit was obtained 130,000 to 180000/ha. The less rainfall and very late monsoon in 2021 were impact the failed of major other crops cultivation in district but the farmers could have got net profit from these drought resistant grass even in extremely adverse climate. The impact on major crops and the cultivation of these grasses was found suitable for Bundelkhand climatic situation. The cultivation technology now is being popularized and horizontally spreading in the district from 25 acres to 100 acres.