Productivity of Rice—Wheat Cropping System in a Part of Indo-Gengetic Plain: A Spatial Analysis

Abstract

Investigations were made to study the effect of unequal distribution of canal water in land and water productivity of the rice—wheat cropping system in terms of head—tail relationship in Bhakra Canal command, Haryana. Information on water supply, agronomic practices, crop yield, etc.,were collected from 216 farmers comprising 36 farmers each from the head, middle, and tail watercourses of two minors during year 2000–01. The unequal supply of canal water and presence of marginal quality groundwater creates large variations in the cropping pattern, irrigation application, and land and water productivity of the irrigation system. The groundwater of tail reaches, being saline in nature, was about 25% less productive as compared to head reaches. The unavailability of canal water in the tail reaches creates more dependency on groundwater. Due to its poor quality the crop production in the tail reaches was less by 10 to 20% in case of wheat, and 20 to 40% in case of rice, as compared to head reaches. Groundwater transfer from head to tail reaches and cultivation of low water requiring salt tolerant crops/varieties would be helpful in reducing the productivity gap and increasing the profitability of the farms in the region.