Climate-smart Rainfed Agriculture for Dry Areas

Abstract

The course conducted by ICARDA focused on the different approaches towards rainfed agriculture, the different conditions that guide us towards solutions, and the interpretation of solutions on long-term sustainability of agricultural production. Water scarcity is usually the biggest yield-limiting factor in the dry areas. Supplemental irrigation is an important technique to overcome water stress in rainfed croplands of West Asia and North Africa and become climate-smart. Supplemental irrigation – providing small quantities of water at crucial growth stages, to supplement rainfall – can increase both yield and water productivity, which is the quantity of grain produced per unit of water used. The course was developed to introduce the framework, understand the impact of the "solutions" selected for rainfed agriculture (see details Annex I) with the expectation that the trainees will serve as trainers upon return to their respective countries and train another 20-25 technicians.