The main focus of this project is to identify the priority challenges in Sustainable Agriculture Production for the 21st Century. University of Agricultural Sciences and IOWA State University have jointly identified sustainable agriculture policy as the main issue to be addressed through this project. In this endeavor the team will actively research grassroots models, modify and implement them in Karnataka state and use them as case studies to offer solutions in the areas of :

• Sustainable Soil and Water Practices
• Sustainable Farming Systems
• Sustainable Food Systems
• Marketing and Trade Policy
• Working with vulnerable population
• Capacity building and curriculum reform

Partnership Title: The Next Generation: Developing India's Institutional Capacity to Confront Agriculture's 21st century challenges

Development Field/Sector: Sustainable Agriculture

Lead U.S. Institution(s): Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Host Country (ies): India
Lead Host Country Partner Institution(s): University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India

U.S. Partnership Director(s): Dr.Ramesh.S.Kanwar, E-mail: rskanwar@iastate.edu
Host Country Partnership Director(s): Dr.P.G.Chengappa, E-mail: pgchengappa@yahoo.com and
                                                                    Dr.N. Nagaraj, E-mail: nagarajnareppa@yahoo.com
Host Country/Region USAID Mission Contact: Joan.M.Claffey, Executive Director

The objectives are to conduct joint research on priority challenges and identify alternative production and marketing models adaptable to the Indian situation. Based on field surveys, the challenges for sustainable agricultural production identified were related to (1) Agricultural Trade and Policy, (2) Water Management, (3) Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems and (4) Health and Nutrition. Small and marginal farmers (below 5 acres) dominated the study villages largely cultivating finger millet (Eleucine coracana) on rainfed lands and mulberry-sericulture on irrigated.

Dairy and sericulture were the major complimentary enterprises in rainfed farms respectively contributing 48 and 39 percent to total income. For farms with groundwater irrigation, the tomato crop contributed 54 to 86 percent of the farm income. Paradoxically, though a majority of the farmers had dairy cattle, the household consumption of milk and milk products was below 50 percent of the recommended intake.

Groundwater resources in the study area are dwindling, threatening groundwater-dependent farms. As the only source of irrigation, borewell depths have exceeded an all time high of 600 feet. Well age has also shortened from 15 to 20 years to 2 to 4 years. The bore well yields are 1000-2500 gallons per hour. With recurrent droughts for the past three years, the drain on groundwater throughout the state of Karnataka has been the rule rather than an exception.

Efforts to educate rural folk on the role of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals in their daily menu were made for the benefit of rural women and women from self-help groups (SHG). Training cum demonstration on drip irrigation and biogas were offered in the study villages. This resulted in an increase in the adoption of biogas by 20 to 30 percent. Though farmers were aware of the benefits of drip irrigation, they were unable to adopt due to lack of capital and associated problems in receiving subsidies.