Rainfed agriculture is a type of agriculture that is carried out in semi-arid regions and where irrigation by people is not necessary, but it comes from the rains. This type of crops is typical of areas where the annual rainfall is below 500mm.
Rainfed agriculture is basically based on specific cultivation systems that allow efficient use of the low humidity of the soil. It is very important to be able to recognize the critical factors that favor the presence of desertification processes in rainfed crops and to establish strategies that can effectively neutralize these processes.
This system is basically focused on the preservation of water and soil, focusing particularly on agriculture without irrigation, typical of the Mediterranean, which generally depend on seasonal rains.
All the aspects associated with the sustainability of rainfed agriculture (political, environmental, economic) are essential in the fight against land degradation.
As already mentioned, this class of crops is typical of the Mediterranean, they can be found in regions of Central America and South America (north and east).
Extremely arid environments such as deserts allow some plants to grow to some degree. This is why the cultivation systems used in these areas have been developed through a continuous convergence between more appropriate cultivation practices and plans oriented towards the choice of plants that can adapt to the terrain. These systems are analyzed in order to highlight desertification problems related to agriculture and possible mitigation strategies.
Rainfed agriculture that takes place in Mediterranean Europe is concentrated in Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal. It is here where cereals such as rice and wheat are grown, as well as woody crops such as almond, walnut and olive.
It is possible that these types of crops are currently a little abandoned, which would mean that over time they will end up becoming extinct, this would have a strong social and cultural impact in the region, since most rainfed crops tend to be used frequently in the preparation of typical dishes of that region.
