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products, which depend on the private sector, cooperatives or joint ventures of pub-
lic and private agencies.
Studies on intercropping over time and across locations in India have identified
useful and productive crop combinations with matching production technologies.
For example, pearl millet and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp) (Umrani and
Subba Reddy 1999 ; Srinivasarao et al. 2014d) which has done extremely well in
regions where late rains are likely to occur in September/October (Bijapur and
Solapur) or where deep, moisture-retentive soils exist (Akola). Cotton and mung
bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek), black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) or soy-
bean are other successful intercropping combinations. Although intercropping has
not been recommended for post-rainy or winter season cropping, the system is gain-
ing importance as a major adaptation strategy to cope with the vagaries of climate.
4.1.5 Adaptation to Climate Change
While climate change impacts the agricultural sector in general, dryland agriculture
is expected to be more vulnerable given its high dependency on monsoons, and the
likelihood of increased extreme weather events due to the aberrant behavior of mon-
soons. Given South Asia’s geographical location and high incidence of poverty, the
region is suffering from climate change. Increased temperatures have not only
affected cropping seasons but also melted the Himalayan glaciers at an alarming
rate. These changes have increased flooding and raised sea levels, severely impact-
ing rural livelihoods in the region. Recurrent natural hazards such as drought and
heavy flooding have affected the region’s poor population disproportionately.
Farmers have reported shortened rainy seasons and increased temperatures over the
years (Chatterjee and Khadka 2011 ). A wide variety of adaptive actions may be
taken to face the adverse effects of climate change on dryland agriculture. The
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) responded to the challenge of cli-
mate change and launched NICRA in 2011 with a major focus on infrastructure
Fig. 5 Modified CA for tropical dryland ecosystems
C. Srinivasa Rao et al.