A Mission to Enhance Productivity of Rain-fed Crops in Rain-fed Districts of Karnataka, India.K VRajuauthorM BRaoauthorK VSarveshauthorN CMuniyappaauthorADasguptaauthorS PWaniauthorWater shortage is a major constraint for rain-fed crop production and achief cause of poverty and hunger in the semi-arid tropics of the world.Over 95 per cent of the world’s poor and mal nourished people live inIndia, China, the Eastern and Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of LatinAmerica. Rain-fed agriculture is practiced on 80% of the world’s farmarea, and generates almost 60% of the world’s staple foods, providingthe livelihoods of 80 per cent of the world’s population. In India, 40% ofthe population depends on rain-fed agriculture, which is cultivated 85million hectares, and produces 44% of food and fodder requirements forthe country. Rain-fed areas in India covering 60% of agriculture produce75% of pulses and more than 90% of sorghum, millet, and groundnut.These areas are the hot spots of poverty, suffer from water scarcity anddroughts, land degradation and low rainwater use efficiencyWatershed Management2011Conference or Workshop Item