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

esides extension of rice cropping to
waterlogged areas, both in Punjab and
Haryana.
The meso state-level analysis of the
two components (viz., Punjab and Haryana)
of Trans-Gangetic Plain (Figs. 11 and 12),
shows that the rate of growth (Table 2) is
still maintained by Punjab at a much higher
rate (productivity 1.7%, area 3.2% and
production 5.0%) than by Haryana
(productivity 0.6%, area 1.3% and
production 1.9%). The reasons for this
differential performance in Punjab over
Haryana, as already discussed, are better
soil (alkali free), abundant water (fresh
water availability) better technology
adoption level of the farmers, financial and
technical patronage of the state and
differences in the rice genotypes (more of
HYVs of non Basmati types) grown in the
former than the latter.
ACR V—Upper Gangetic Plain Region
(Uttar Pradesh): A progressive positive
trend of growth in productivity (0.3%), area
(0.7%), production (1.0%) has been
observed over 1991–95. But this rate of
growth falls far short of that for the 1981–
90 decade (Fig. 13). Thus, an area and
productivity plateau is apparent in this
region. Reasons for this are not entirely
clear as the physical environment is
potentially conducive to high productivity.
Socioeconomic and infrastructural factors
may assume an important role here.
ACR IV—Middle Gangetic Plain Region
(Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar): The
productivity and hence the area and
production of rice seems to be falling in the
1990s (i.e. 1991–95) (Fig. 14). The three
plausible reasons which could be advanced
for this are: (i) shift of a large productive
area in South Bihar Alluvial Plains to
winter maize, (ii) a sharp decline in
productivity of paddy soils since the
introduction of RWCS (which has been
observed to occur within a couple of years
under low or no inputs of nitrogen,
phosphorus and zinc), and (iii) the
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