Sustaining rice–wheat system productivity in the Indo-Gangetic plains: water management-related issues

Abstract

The Indo-Gangetic plains constitute the most important agricultural region in south Asia. From early 1960s to late 1980s, the area under rice–wheat cropping systems in the Indian portion of the plains has grown rapidly and the crop yields have increased resulting in large production gains. The gains were particularly significant in the north-western region covered by the states of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh although, of late, growth rates have slowed. In comparison productivity levels and growth rates in the eastern region represented by eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal have remained low. Water management-related issues pose a major concern to the sustainability of production systems across the region. In the eastern region flooding is widespread, groundwater resources have not been adequately developed and water availability to crops from surface irrigation systems is unreliable and poorly distributed. Over exploitation of groundwater resources and quality degradation are major concerns in sustaining high productivity in the north-western region. Suggestions are made on areas which call for enhanced research efforts.