What to grow on rainfed land with no irrigation?

On rainfed land you should choose hardy, drought tolerant crops that finish on rainfall and the moisture stored in the soil, and build your plan around catching and saving every drop of rain. The dryland staples are millets like pearl millet (bajra), sorghum (jowar) and finger millet (ragi), pulses like pigeon pea, horse gram, moth bean and cowpea, and oilseeds like groundnut, sesame and castor, all of which manage with limited and uncertain rain. These crops also handle poorer soils and spread your risk if rain fails midway. Strengthen the plan with in situ moisture conservation such as field bunds, deep ploughing in summer, mulching, and intercropping a cereal with a pulse so a single failure does not wipe you out. Sow as soon as the monsoon settles so the crop catches the full rain. Avoid water hungry crops entirely on rainfed land. Pick short to medium duration drought tolerant varieties and confirm the right ones and sowing window for your rainfall pattern with your local KVK.