Rice and Wheat: Preferred Crops for Farmers

Context

Rice and wheat form the backbone of Indian agriculture, dominating the cropping patterns across the Indo-Gangetic plains and beyond. Despite growing calls for diversification, these two cereals remain the primary choice for millions of Indian farmers. The reasons for this preference are rooted in a combination of economic security, policy incentives, agro-ecological suitability, and historical developments.

Economic and Policy Incentives

Assured Procurement and Minimum Support Price (MSP)

• Procurement of rice and wheat at MSP is almost guaranteed by the government, providing some insulation to farmers from market volatility and a guaranteed income. For example, in Punjab, rice area has increased much owing to consistent MSP support.
• These crops have consistent demand through PDS, while many alternative crops are left to the vagaries of market price fluctuations.

Impact of the Green Revolution

• The Green Revolution introduced the high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of wheat and rice with better irrigation, fertilizers, and mechanization. This technological package made the cultivation of rice and wheat more productive and less risky compared to other crops.
• For example, the introduction of semi-dwarf wheat varieties concerned less with lodging risks and responded well to inputs, thereby giving further encouragement to their cultivation.

Agronomic and Technological Advantages

Yield Stability and Irrigation Support

• Irrigation facilities dominate rice and wheat cultivation to keep yield variation and risk at a minimum. Therein lies the advantage over the rainfed crops, which tend to suffer more under fluctuating weather conditions.
• Keeping both crops under constant public investment since 1975 in the domains of research and breeding for varieties has resulted in high-yielding, disease-resistant types with amounts of adaptability to various agro-climatic zones.

Continuous Breeding Innovations

• Research is still going on via breeding to develop varieties of even higher productivity, enhanced tolerance to stress, and increased input efficiency. For example, wheat variety HD-3385 was released in 2023, having a yield potential of 7.3 tonnes/hectare and being resistant to major rust diseases.
• Genome-edited rice varieties such as Kamala offer higher yields, early maturity, less water, and fertilizer requirement, thus being useful to the farmers who are constrained for resources.

Technological Penetration

• The widespread availability of machinery and irrigation technology has made it easier for farmers to cultivate rice and wheat efficiently, further boosting productivity and reducing labor requirements.

Socio-Economic and Cultural Factors

Food Preferences and Security

• Rice and wheat are staple foods for a majority of the Indian population. Farmers with small landholdings often grow these crops for both subsistence and market sale, ensuring household food security.
• The centrality of these crops to India’s food security has led to continued policy prioritization and investment, reinforcing their dominance in cropping patterns.

Livelihood Stability

• The rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) provides stable income with relatively low risk, serving as the mainstay for millions of rural households. This stability discourages farmers from shifting to alternative crops that might offer less predictable returns.

Agro-Ecological Suitability

• The Indo-Gangetic plains, encompassing states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, offer ideal agro-climatic conditions, abundant irrigation, and fertile soils for rice and wheat cultivation.
• Accessibility to machinery for sowing and harvesting, coupled with nominal irrigation charges, further supports the prevalence of these crops in these regions.

Challenges and the Case for Diversification

• Despite their advantages, rice and wheat cultivation faces challenges such as groundwater depletion (especially in Punjab and Haryana), soil health deterioration, and stagnating yields in some regions.
• There is growing interest in diversifying cropping systems to include less water-intensive and more sustainable alternatives, but the economic and policy ecosystem still heavily favors rice and wheat.

Conclusion

Farmers’ preference for rice and wheat is shaped by a complex interplay of assured economic returns, policy support, technological advancements, agro-ecological suitability, and cultural factors. While these crops have been pivotal in ensuring India’s food security, addressing emerging sustainability challenges will require a gradual shift towards more diversified and resource-efficient cropping systems, supported by appropriate policy and market interventions.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Compare and contrast the agro-climatic conditions required for the cultivation of rice and wheat in India. How do these crops influence food security and regional agricultural patterns?

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