The arid region is characterized by fragile ecosystem. Due to frequent droughts arable farming is a gamble. Tree is central to production and function in this region. It is also central to arable farming and animal husbandry. Over fifty years of research at CAZRI have shown that growing tree on agricultural and non agricultural fields conserves soil and rain water, enrich soils and produce biomass which can be used as food, fodder and fuel.

Livestock sector is one of the key components of arid agriculture in India. It is an important source of livelihood in Rajasthan for rural masses and generates regular income. Arid Rajasthan which is known as traditional pastoralist region has 29.1 million livestock. During the last two decades the cattle and camel population in the region has sharply declined mainly due to reduction of common grazing lands, fodder deficit, reciuring droughts and government’s neglect. On the other hand the demand for milk, meat and other dairy products has enormously increased. In order to assess the present situation and foresee the avenues for development, district wise livestock data from 1956 to 2007 have been analyzed and various aspects viz. density, grazing pressure, human livestock ratio, fodder situation, impact of drought, veterinary facilities and population trend from 1972 to 2007 are presented. Long term climatic conditions and biophysical resources, key challenges, limitations and potentials of this sector have been brought out. Strategies are suggested for all roimd development of livestock sector.

In this paper, an attempt has been made to document the economic efficiency of mustard production in arid zone of Rajasthan. The forty farmers were selected each from simple random sampling method among the farmers using new technology (mustard variety Jai Kisan) as well as traditional technology for mustard crop. The results indicated that modern technology generated higher technical efficiency. The higher technical efficiency could be achieved due to efficient use of inputs. If the farmers used inputs efficiently, 22 per cent more yield could be obtained. Similarly, there is ample scope to increase the wheat and mustard production by nearly 20 to 25 per cent. This would lead to decrease in unit cost of production and increase the farm income.

The paper illustrates local indigenous systems that have evolved along the years for collection and processing of Baichnadi (Dioscorea hispida Dennst. syn. D. daemona Roxb.) tubers through a case study from a village Bhanpurkheda in Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh. The tubers are collected and processed by the local people by various indigenous methods since ages. Baiga (44% population) is one such primitive tribe that is involved in collection, processing and sale of Baichandi. The study has estimated that Baichnadi contributes to approximately 24.5% of the total annual income of a household. Traditional collection methods do not cause serious damage to the mother plants and thus ensure sustainability. Now due to poverty, the locals try to collect more and more quantity of Baichandi tubers in pursuit to enhance the income by sale. The study reveals that creating awareness on medicinal values of the plant, few small modifications in the processing and improved marketing would enhance the returns to the Baiga community in Mandla district.

The main objective of watershed in arid zone of Rajasthan is to enhance land productivity and to increase the water-table. The watershed concept is very old in arid region. During, fifieenth century, nearly 500 watersheds in the form of ‘Khadin” with different size irrigated nearly 12,140 ha of crop land in Jaisalmer district of arid region of Rajasthan. Similarly, roof water harvesting is also very old. After the introduction of tap water drinking facilities, it disappeared from urban area and up to some extent also from rural areas. After 1987, nearly 1710 watersheds have been constructed in arid zone of Rajasthan at the cost of Rs.1465.8 m. A Jhawar watershed was selected purposely (as it was constructed by CAZRI for demonstration) situated nearly 25 km away from Jodhpur city. The total area of Jhawar watershed was 4600 ha spread in five villages, namely, Bujawar, Jhawar, Choka, Rohila Kalan and Doli. The total expenditure incurred was only Rs.3.l04 lakh which was recovered within one year i.e. Rs.7.96 la.kh was generated only from crop activities. Another Rs.6.00 lakh was generated from sale of river silt every year. The cropping intensity was 123.1% under flood irrigation which increased to 158.1% under sprinkler irrigation. About 61man days were additionally generated from sprinkler irrigation system. The water-table increased within the vicinity of 2.5km after which it declined due to construction of watershed. Earlier water used to flow all the way. During the drought condition, watershed is totally a failure phenomenon as water is even not available in the form of run-off.

Potassium supply characteristics of soils have been investigated from various angles of which Q/I concept is considered meaningful, Number of workers have applied this approach for Rajasthan soils. However, Practically no work has been done on Q/I approach on soil series occurring in Rajasthan. Various Q/I parameters of eight soil series of arid Rajasthan have been studied and their relationships among themselves and soil attributes are reported in this paper.

A. Ientiformis (exotic) and A. stocksii, halophytic salt bushes established and produced nitrogen rich fodder on arid salty waterlogged soil in Jodhpur. Mounding practices significantly enhanced the survival, growth and biomass production for both the species. Double ridge mound was best A. Stocksii and circular dish mound for A. Ientiformis. After 72 months, A. stocksii maintained the percent survival as 75% on DRM, 41.7% on CDM and 12.5% on control while it was 53.8(DRM), 58.0 (CDM) and 8.3 % on control, respectively, for A. Ientiformis. Overall A. Ientiformis recorded significantly more mean green and dry (2462.2 & 819.8 g) biomass compared to 1548.3 & 631.3 g for A. stocksii. Root development was alongside the ridges in DRM, while in CDM root development was in all direction along the circular mound with occasional root going out of the soil structure. Overall CDM was the best structure and it produced 562.5 & 256.0 g shrub-1 fresh and dry rootmass which was 2.8 & 15.0 and 2.1 & 12.2 times more than DRM and control respectively.