In the heart of India’s northwestern region, a quiet agricultural revolution is brewing, one that could reshape the future of farming in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. A recent study published in *Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems* has shed light on the potential of maize as a viable alternative to the resource-intensive rice-wheat (RW) cropping system, offering promising insights for farmers, policymakers, and the agriculture sector at large.
The research, led by S. L. Jat of the ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR) in Ludhiana, Punjab, involved an extensive on-farm participatory study across nine districts in Haryana and Punjab. The study aimed to evaluate the yield, profitability, irrigation water use, water productivity, energy use, and global warming potential (GWP) of maize compared to rice.
The findings are compelling. While the mean rice equivalent yield (REY) of maize was 6.6% lower than rice, the story doesn’t end there. “When we look at the bigger picture, maize offers significant advantages,” says Jat. For instance, wheat yield after maize was found to be 16.7% higher than after rice, a crucial factor for farmers relying on wheat as a staple crop.
Perhaps the most striking finding is the stark contrast in water usage. Rice required about 10 times more irrigations than maize, resulting in approximately 1,040% higher irrigation water productivity in maize. This is a game-changer in a region grappling with groundwater depletion.
From an economic standpoint, the benefits are equally compelling. Net returns from maize were 46.5% and 32.5% higher than rice in Haryana and Punjab, respectively. Moreover, maize provided 30.3% and 6.2% higher net profit under subsidized electricity in the two states. This could significantly boost farmers’ incomes and incentivize the shift towards maize cultivation.
The environmental benefits are equally impressive. Total GWP of maize was about 63% lower than rice, energy use declined by around 271%, labor use by 38.6%, and diesel consumption by approximately 37%. These findings underscore maize’s potential to mitigate the environmental impact of agriculture while enhancing profitability.
The study’s implications are far-reaching. It advocates for the substitution of rice with maize in suitable agro-ecologies, a move that could revolutionize farming practices in the region. However, the researchers caution that such diversification should be region-specific and supported by enabling research, extension, and policy interventions to ensure sustainability and livelihood security.
As the agriculture sector grapples with the challenges of climate change, resource depletion, and economic viability, this study offers a beacon of hope. It underscores the need for innovative, sustainable, and profitable farming practices that can secure the future of agriculture in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and beyond. The findings could shape future developments in the field, paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous agricultural sector.