RICE WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEMS-CONSTRAINTS AND STRATEGIES : A REVIEW

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.