The current NWDPRA strategy for rainfed farming is based on the concept of rainwater conservation and on the holistic and integrated development of the potential of the nation's watersheds including such problem areas as hilly, saline, waterlogged, coastal areas and desert ecosystems, and on the promotion of the farming systems approach, management of common property resources, and the augmenting of family incomes and nutrition levels through household production systems. The goal of the watershed-based management approach is to evolve models of sustainable rainfed agriculture which can be replicated on a larger scale in the country in a phased manner in the future (MOAC, 1994).
Some of the important program measures which are being promoted under NWDPRA and which stabilise and increase productivity in rainfed areas include: soil and water conservation, biomass production, integrated nutrient and pest management, mixed cropping, rainfed horticulture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, farm forestry/agro-forestry, silviculture, household production systems and management of common property resources (MOAC, 1994).
The implementation is through the Friendly Farmers' Forums, or Mitra Krishak Mandals (MKM). The MKMs are expected to be the main instrument of peoples' participation in the program. An MKM comprises of a group of about 5 elected or selected friendly farmers from each of the different villages in a small watershed (MOAC, 1992). The five friendly farmers include two small/marginal women farmers, one artisan farmer, another livestock farmer (known as Gopal, who is concerned with animal husbandry and common property resource management) and an enlightened or progressive/innovative farmer. The Friendly Farmers Forum of the small watershed elects a president and a secretary (Sinha, 1995). In addition specialized farmers' groups may be formed in each of the villages of a watershed for special activities.
