Crop Diversification & Intensification of Rice Based Cropping System

Rice and wheat are the important crop of rice-wheat zone of Madhya Pradesh which occupy an area of 16.75 lakh and 43.0 lakh hectares, respectively. The average productivity of these crops are 11.94 q/ha and 20 q/ha, respectively which are low. It is due to use of local varieties, erratic and uneven distribution of monsoon rains as well as prolonged dry spells observed frequently. The problem is further aggravated as irrigation facility in the Kymore-Satpura agro climatic zone of Madhya Pradesh is limited which affect the cultivation of wheat to a greater extent. In recent years, a large number of rice varieties have been developed but its suitablity in different cropping sequences has not been studied. A large number of acreages remain fallow in rabi season due to limited irrigation facility. Majority of farmers are asking for the suitable cropping system which gave maximum profits and maximum utilization of natural resources in the area.