RICE WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEMS-CONSTRAINTS AND STRATEGIES : A REVIEW

Abstract

The rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) in the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of South Asia with the help of Green Revolution in the early 1970’s greatly contributed to India's food self-sufficiency and livelihood of millions of peoplethus, became the country's primary source of food-grain production. However, deterioration of soil health and quality, ground water depletion, water stress, labour shortage, introduction of new weeds and pests particularly Phalaris minor, Scirpophaga incertulas and climate change have all contributed to a major production standstill and deterioration in recent years by which the sustainability of rice wheat cropping system is now at jeopardy. Traditional agronomic practices had various negative implications on the sustainability of rice wheat cropping system with the introduction of HYVs. So, a paradigm shift is required to achieve long-term productivity, sustainability and allow farmers to minimise inputs, optimise yields, enhance profitability, maintain the natural resource base and reduce risk owing to both environmental and economic issues through resource-conserving technologies (RCTs) including zero/minimaltillage, PUSA decomposer, bed planting, crop residue management, mechanical rice transplanter (MRT) and crop diversification. This article focuses some of the issues that need to be addressed in the RWCS in order to achieve the goal of increasing regional productivity and assuring food security while maximising the effective use of natural resources, enhancing rural livelihoods and aiding in poverty alleviation.