Sustainability of Crop Production Under Changing Climate Pattern in the Chhattisgarh Region of Central India

Abstract

The Chhattisgarh region of Central India has an average annual rainfall of about 1400mm and rice is the major crop grown mostly in rainfed conditions under ‘broadcast biasi’ system of cultivation. Out of the three agroclimatic zones (ACZs) in this region viz., i) Chhattisgarh Plains, ii) Bastar Plateau and iii) Northern Hills, the latter two ACZs are inhibited predominantly by native tribes.There are some pockets in this region where rainfall is decreasing significantly during last 4-5 decades. Though the rainfall is decreasing the agrotechnology developed in the recent decades has increased the productivity of rice and other crops.In this paper, the sustainability of the productivity of rice and other crops has been examined using the 'Sustainable Yield Index (SYI) which is:SYI=Y-σ/YmaxWhere Y=Average productivity of a given crop under given management over time.σ=Standard deviation of the productivity of the data set.Ymax=Highest productivity of the data setIn tradition bound and predominantly native tribal areas and with poor socioeconomic conditions, the agricultural inputs like chemical fertilizers, insecticides/pesticides etc., are very meager and hence the agricultural sustainability in these areas can be assessed from crop productivity and its variability.In this paper the sustainability of the important crops is examined in view of the changing rainfall pattern. In unsustainable production areas, the causes for the unsustainable productivity are examined. Remedial measures for improving the productivity either through water harvesting or through crop diversification have been suggested.