CONTENTS: 1. Introduction, 2. FARMING AND CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION: Rainfed Farming, Irrigated Farming, Dry Farming, Dryland Farming, Humid Farming, Classification of Climate, Classification of Rainfed Ecosystems based on Aridity Index, Global Rainfed Land Scenario, India: Rainfed/Dryland Scenario, Rainfed/Dryland Agro-climatic/Agroecological regions/sub-regions in India, 3. HISTORY AND DEVELOP0MENT OF RAINFED AGRICULTURE IN INDIA: 4. CLIMATE OF RAINFED AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS: Solar Radiation, Temperature, Rainfall, Indian Monsoon, Onset of the Southwest Monsoon, Monsoon Withdrawal, Characteristics of Seasonal Rainfall in Rainfed Regions, Effective Rainfall, Length of Growing Period, Dew Fall, Wind, 5. SOILS PREVALENT IN RAINFED AGRO-ECOREGIONS: Black Soils, Red Soils, Alluvial Soils, 6. ABIOTIC STRESSES AFFECTING CROP PRODUCTION IN RAINFED REGIONS: Light Induced Stress, High Temperature Stress, Visible Plant Injuries due to Extreme Temperature, Drought, Classification of Drought, Geographical Spread of Drought in India, Oceanic-atmospheric Phenomena and Monsoon Failure/Drought, Effect of Water Deficit on Physio-Morphological Characteristics of the Plants, Unseasonal precipitation-Hailstorm, Physical Damage to Plants by Wind, Humidity, 7. CROP ADAPTATION MECHANISMS TO ABIOTIC STRESSES: Escaping Drought, Stress Avoidance, Water Conservation Strategies in Plants, Plant Mechanisms to Accelerating Water Uptake, Drought Tolerance, 8. UNTAPPED YIELD POTENTIAL OF CROPS IN RAINFED REGIONS: Alfisols/Oxisols, Vertisols, Inceptisols, Entisols/Aridisols, 9. CONSTRAINTS FOR CROP PRODUCTION IN RAINFED REGIONS: Climatic Constraints, Edaphic Constraints, Technological Challenges, Socio-economic and Cultural Challenges, 10. PROSPECTS TO IMPROVING AGRICULTURE IN RAINFED REGIONS: 11. WATER HARVESTING AND SOIL MOISTURE CONSERVATION: Principles of Water Harvesting and Soil Moisture Conservation, Agronomical Measures, Mechanical Measures, Biological Measures, Ex-situ Water Harvesting, 12. RAINFALL ANALYSIS AND RAINFED CROP PLANNING: Scientific Organisations Supporting Weather data’s Sources and Forecasts, Selection of Suitable Crops using Aridity Index, Percentage Departure of Rainfall, Standard Deviation and Co-efficient of Variation, Moisture Availability Index (MAI), Rainfall Criteria Suitability for Rainfed Crops, Determination of Length of Growing Period, Probability Analysis of Rainfall for Rainfed Crop Planning, Scheduling of Supplemental Irrigation During Dry Spells, 13.CHOICE OF CROPS AND CROPPING SYSTEMS: Rainfed Rice-based Production Systems, Cropping Systems, Common Cropping Systems in Rainfed Regions, Crop Substitution in Rainfed Regions, 14. TILLAGE AND CROPPING TECHNIQUES: Preparatory Cultivation, Optimum Time of Sowing, Pre-monsoon Sowing, Methods of Sowing, Seeding Depth, Crop Density, Reducing Water Losses Due to Evaporation - Mulching, Reducing Water Losses Due to Transpiration, Antitransparents, Windbreaks and Shelterbelts, 15 Soil Fertility Management, Plant Nutrients in the Soil, Diagnosis of Plant Nutrient Disorders, Inorganic Fertilization, Fertilizer use by Crops in World, Balanced Fertilization, Concepts of Fertilizer Recommendation, Organic Sources of Crop Nutrients, Green Manures, Legume Effect, Introduction of Legumes in Crop Rotations, Biofertilizers, Integrated Nutrient Management / Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply, 16. WEED MANAGEMENT: Critical Period of Weed Competition, Integrated Weed Management, 17. INTEGRATED PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT: Preventive Methods, Mechanical Control, Biological Control, Promoting Natural Enemies, 18. CONTINGENT CROP PLANNING: Delayed Onset of Monsoon, Intermediary Dry Spells, Mid-term Correction, Early Withdrawal (or) Cessation of Monsoon, 19. INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM FOR RAINFED REGIONS: Principles of Integrated Farming System, Components of Integrated Farming System, Conceptual Framework of Location Specific IFS- models, IFS Profitability and Employment, Significance of Integrated Farming System, 20. ALTERNATE LAND USE SYSTEMS: Land Capability Classification, Agroforestry, Silvipastural System, Alley Cropping, Ley Farming, 21. REHABILITATION OF DEGRADED RAINFED LANDS: Wastelands/degraded Lands of India, Management of Degraded Lands, Tree Planting Techniques in Wastelands, 22. AGRICULTURAL LAND USE PLANNING FOR RAINED AGROECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT: Objectives of Agricultural Land Use Planning, Concept and Strategies of Agricultural Land Use Planning, 23. WATERSHED MANAGEMENT: Factors that Govern the Geomorphologic Characteristics of a Watershed, Principles of Watershed Management, Objectives of Watershed Management, Classification of Watershed, Delineation of Watersheds, Watershed Development Programmes in India, Factors Affecting Watershed Management, Constraints in Watershed Management, Integrated Watershed Management, Organizational Requirement of Watershed, Approaches in Watershed Management, Watershed Treatment / Development Plan, Action Plan for Watershed Development Programmes, Application of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing in Watershed Management, India - WRIS, Bhuvan IWMP-SRISHTI, 24. SECONDARY AGRICULTURE IN RAINFED REGIONS; 25. FARM MECHANIZATION; ANNEXURES: Annexure I: Agroclimatic/Ecological Regions of India, Annexure II: Popular Cultivars/Hybrids suitable for Rainfed Farming Regions, Annexure III: Weeds, Annexure IV: Ready-Reckoner Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) Practices for Major Rainfed Crops, Annexure V: Composition of Common Chemical Fertilizer Sources (%), Annexure VI: Multipurpose Trees Suitable for Rainfed Regions, Annexure VII: Research Institutes and Research Projects related to Rainfed Farming, Annexure VIII: Days related with Significant Events, Annexure IX: International Years, Annexure X: International Decades, Glossary, References.