Rice-Wheat Cropping Systems of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of India

plain districts of Western Plain Zone. This
represents the zone of 3.0–3.5 t rice/ha
(4.5–5.25 t paddy/ha) productivity. It is
localized in the Tarai area of district
Nainital (Udham Singh Nagar) and
adjoining areas. Again, the high
productivity zonation seems to be spreading
towards the east, west and south in a semicircle
as observed in Punjab. A similar
trend of high productivity is also seen to be
emerging in West Bengal where a high
productivity zone of 2.5–3.0 t rice/ha (3.75–
4.5 t paddy/ha) is spreading from district
Barddhaman to towards the surrounding
areas.
The productivity of rice realized
continues to be dismally low (less than 1.5–
2.0 t rice/ha (2.25–3.0 t paddy/ha) over
most of the rest of the Uttar Pradesh. The
productivity tends to slump to still lower
levels of less than 1.5 t/ha rice or 2.25 t/ha
paddy in the north-eastern and northwestern
zones. It seems that the advent of
“Green Revolution” has not made any
impact here. The yield realization
continues to be pegged down to pre-green
revolution era at the low level of less than
3 t ha paddy (2 t ha rice). This suggests
that farmers have not yet started adopting
the new high-input high-yield rice culture.
Even though HYVs have been introduced
and farmers educated about inputs, use of
fertilizers, herbicides and tractorization of
land for preparatory tillage on an extensive
scale and mechanized management of rice
and wheat (threshers/harvesters) remains
scarce. Probable reasons for this may be
many. Probably the Zamindari (large
landowner) system, absence of active
peasant farmers, and less than desired
availability of technical, financial and
extension support may be the major
constraint. Many of the able bodied males
and females move out from eastern Uttar
Pradesh, leaving their lands to be managed
by older people or children. Often times
tenant farmers are engaged who have little
interest in land development. But, in
contrast, the low yield realization in the
western and central parts of Uttar Pradesh
is rather an interesting case, in that, that
little migration of labor takes place from
these areas. Further intensified efforts to
increase rice productivity in this area
through a mix of appropriate policy changes,
farmer education, and infrastructure
development are obviously needed to make
a break-through. In fact, this zone holds
the potential of meeting the increased food
needs of the future and ought to be given
the active attention, it deserves.
The productivity of rice in Bihar,
ACR IV: Middle Gangetic Plain Region is
particularly low. It is mostly less than 1.5 t/
ha rice or 2.25 t/ha paddy over most of the
eastern Bihar. This region is highly floodprone
(Fig. 9b), and flooding of lands over
an extended period makes rice cultivation
very risky. Thus, until and unless the
government in cooperation with the Royal
Government of Nepal undertakes (i) largescale
agroforestry and aforestation programs
in the Hills of the Himalayas, (ii)
construction of appropriate dams, and (iii)
appropriate steps to control water flows by
canalization of river flows, rice productivity
in this area is likely to remain low.
However, rice productivity in the upper
western Bihar (inclusive of both North-
Eastern and South Bihar Alluvial Plain
Zones) which are not subjected to severe
flooding [(as those obtained in the eastern
Bihar) (Fig. 9b)] holds promise of
undertaking productivity improvement
measures like harnessing of natural local
water resources and adoption of modern
high-input guided production techniques.
Perhaps, the agriculture and rural
environment obtained in this region
continues to suffer from similar
socioeconomic problems as described for
eastern Uttar Pradesh. This coupled with
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