The Indian arid zone covers more than 300, 000 sq. kms., nearly three-fifths of which are in Rajasthan, and which are unlikely to get any direct benefit from the new strategy of agricultural development because of lack of moisture and other arid conditions. Besides, the farm economy of the arid areas is faced with recurrent famines and low as well as highly unstable crop production. Left to themselves, the stagnation and backwardness of these areas is self-perpetuating and they may become a permanent liability to the rest of the state and the country at large. The stability and growth of arid agriculture requires an integrated approach in which measures such as exploration and exploitation of ground water resources, adoption of resource conservation measures (for crop lands and grazing lands), reorganization of crop farming (through adoption of perennial grass as a regular crop as well as increased emphasis on legumes and high yielding seeds suited to dry tracts), revitalization of livestock farming through proper facilities for drinking water, pasture regeneration, and regular and adequate marketing facilities should have an important place.
