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Future disseminationThrough dialogue and experimentation with farmers, a consensus has evolved: Thousands of farmers (>10,000) who have been exposed to this technologyare now convinced that a second crop, for example, chickpea (other rabicrops such as lentil, lintel, mustard, wheat, etc., need to be tested) after rice,can be grown without irrigation. An effective approach to dissemination has emerged. For new villages, thisincludes– Identification of interested and committed farmers and the formation ofgrowers’ groups. The groups must agree to plant in a block to facilitatecrop protection.– Provision of training on crop production technology (as given above)to group representatives and village-level extension staff.– Provision of 200–300 kg of seed of short-duration chickpea varieties.Currently, only ICCV 2, KAK 2, and JGK 1 are available, but additionalvarieties are being developed using farmer participatory breeding approaches.– Provision of “starter packs” (enough Rhizobium inoculum, sodiummolybdate, and single superphosphate for 200–300 kg of seeds, i.e.,about 2–3 ha). Assembly and distribution of packs of Rhizobium andsodium molybdate represent an opportunity for small-scale businessdevelopment in resource-poor communities.– Technical backstopping where necessary.ConclusionsRainfed rabi cropping in rice fallow areas increases income and improves food securityand human nutrition. In many instances, it also improves social organization,agricultural skills, general empowerment, and commitment to the land. According toSingh (2002), “Rainfed areas have the highest concentration of poor and malnourishedpeople as these areas are characterized by low agricultural productivity, highnatural resource degradation, limited access to infrastructure and markets, and othersocioeconomic constraints…. There is evidence to suggest that investment in lessfavoredareas can yield relatively high rates of economic returns and significantlyreduce poverty and environmental and natural resource degradation.” We believe thatinvestment in promoting rainfed rabi cropping in these five states of India is a soundand productive avenue for poverty reduction and rural development and should bepursued more widely.ReferencesCSD (United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development). 2000. Ecological and socioeconomicfoundations for defining best practices for sustainable agriculture and ruraldevelopment (SARD). Agriculture Dialogue Paper 3, 1/26/00.Extending rabi cropping in rice fallows of eastern India 199