Dryland Farming

Definition of Dryland Farming

Dryland farming is an agricultural system that produces crops without relying on irrigation, instead making strategic use of natural rainfall and soil moisture conservation techniques. It is practiced in regions with low or variable rainfall, where careful management of soil, crop choice, and planting timing is essential to sustain production.

Rather than maximising yield through added water, dryland farming focuses on minimising moisture loss and optimising water use efficiency within natural climate limits.

Why Dryland Farming Matters

Dryland farming matters because it supports food production in water-scarce and semi-arid regions, where irrigation is limited or unavailable. Its importance includes:

• Reducing dependence on irrigation and freshwater extraction

• Supporting agriculture in drought-prone environments

• Enhancing climate resilience under increasing rainfall variability

• Lowering energy and infrastructure requirements

• Maintaining agricultural livelihoods in marginal landscapes

As water scarcity becomes more widespread, dryland farming plays a critical role in sustainable land and water management.

Key Practices in Dryland Farming

• Soil Moisture Conservation – Mulching, reduced tillage, and residue retention

• Crop Selection – Drought-tolerant and early-maturing crop varieties

• Crop Rotation and Fallowing – Allowing soils to store moisture between crops

• Timely Planting – Aligning sowing with rainfall patterns

• Weed Management – Reducing competition for limited water

• Soil Structure Management – Improving infiltration and water-holding capacity

Related Terms

• Rainfed Agriculture

• Irrigation

• Climate Resilience

• Soil Health

• Sustainable Agriculture

• Water Stewardship

Useful Resources on Dryland Farming

Explore these authoritative resources to learn more about dryland agriculture, drought management, and water-efficient farming systems:

• FAO – Dryland Agriculture and Water Scarcity – Global guidance on farming in arid and semi-arid regions.

• ICARDA – Dryland Farming Research – Research on crops and systems for dry environments.

• Our World in Data – Water Use in Agriculture – Agricultural Water as a share of total water withdrawals.

• USDA – Dryland Crop Production – Practical resources for rain-dependent farming systems.

• DEFRA – Drought and Water Management (UK) – Policy and resilience guidance.

• AGRIS – Dryland Farming Research Database – Peer-reviewed studies on dryland systems.

• World Bank – Agriculture and Water Scarcity – Economic and policy perspectives.

• OECD – Climate-Resilient Farming Systems – Analysis of adaptation strategies.

• ScienceDirect - An overview of Dryland Farming.

• The Dry Farming Institute - A non-profit organization. Their mission is to empower growers to thrive with less water.