The Rice-Wheat Cropping System of South Asia

Summary The rice-wheat cropping pattern of South Asia has seen a phenomenal growth in area, production and yield in the last two decades. This cropping system encompasses the four countries of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan along the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and into the mid-hills of the Himalayas. Traditionally, wheat was grown mostly in the northwestern belt and rice in the eastern belt of the IGP. With the introduction of improved high yielding, input responsive, short duration rice and wheat varieties, the rice-wheat pattern became feasible and saw both crops grown in the same year. In this pattern, rice is grown during the summer months followed by wheat in the winter months. It is now found as a major system throughout the IGP. However, there are signs that the productivity of this cropping system is either stagnating or declining. Several site-specific benchmark and diagnostic farm level surveys have been conducted in the region to understand the constraints of this cropping system and ways to improve its productivity and sustainability. This article analyzes the trend in the area, production and yields of rice and wheat as a whole and assumes these trends are similar in rice-wheat areas. It also summarizes the results of the farm level surveys and productivity analyses done in the IGP on rice and wheat.