Q8.What are the major factors responsible for making the rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success, how has this system become bane in India?

The rice-wheat cropping system, dominant in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, involves intensive cultivation of rice (Kharif) and wheat (Rabi), crucial for India's food security.

• Green Revolution Technologies: High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of rice and wheat significantly boosted productivity.
• Assured Irrigation: Expanded canal networks and groundwater extraction provided reliable water supply.
• Government Support: Minimum Support Price (MSP) and assured procurement incentivized farmers.
• Food Security: Enabled India to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains.
• Increased Farmer Income: Initial high yields and stable prices improved farmer economic conditions.

• Groundwater Depletion: Water-intensive rice cultivation causes severe over-extraction and declining groundwater levels.
• Soil Health Degradation: Continuous monoculture, nutrient mining, and imbalanced fertilizer use reduce soil organic carbon and fertility.
• Environmental Pollution: Excessive chemical fertilizers/pesticides contaminate soil/water. Stubble burning causes severe air pollution.
• Loss of Crop Biodiversity: Focus on few HYVs displaces traditional patterns, increasing vulnerability to pests/diseases.
• Economic Unsustainability: Rising input costs and plateauing yields diminish farmer returns, leading to distress.

• Crop Diversification: Promote less water-intensive crops.
• Water-Saving Technologies: Encourage DSR and micro-irrigation.
• Sustainable Soil Management: Advocate organic farming and residue management.
• Policy Reforms: Revisit MSP and procurement to incentivize sustainable practices.

While vital for food security, the rice-wheat system's environmental and economic costs are now evident. A shift towards sustainable, diversified agriculture is imperative for ecological balance and farmer welfare.