Constraints of Rainfed Rice Production in Eastern India : An Overview

Rice is one of the most important crops in eastern India and it will continue to enjoy its leading position so long as it remains the staple food of almost entire of the population of this region. Under the influence of increasing population pressure the demand for rice is expected to rise persistently in coming years. As the land frontier has already been exhausted the future source of growth in this region lies in raising the productivity of rice crop. Even to sustain in food grains production, it is important to give due attention to the eastern India in general and to accord high priority to the constraints of rice production in this region in particular. This can be achieved if rice research helps to reduce production losses due to various biotic and abiotic constraints in rainfed rice ecosystems. Since elimination or partial solution of these constraints would have a major impact on rice production in eastern India because the yield gaps are very high, the major constraints to rice production in eastern India require more objectivity and concerted efforts while addressing them. The major rice production constraints and priority research problem areas of rainfed rice production in eastern India are drought and submergence, bacterial blight, leaf blast, weeds, brown plant hopper and poor soil fertility. Hence, it would be logical to prioritize rice research on the basis of prevailing constraints under rainfed areas of eastern India. Besides, low input use, inappropriate plant spacing, late sowing and selection of wrong cultivars are some of the other technical constraints, which can be effectively reduced through the diffusion of relevant technologies among ultimate users or farmers. It requires further strengthening of linkages between ‘Research & Extension’ that facilitates feed-backs and disseminates technical information