Achieving Sustainability in Rice Production
Table of Contents
Source: The Hindu
Relevance:
GS Paper III – Cropping Patterns, Sustainable Agriculture, Environmental Pollution
Why in News?
- In 2025, India overtook China to become the world’s largest rice producer.
- India now supplies ~40% of global rice exports, crossing 20 million metric tonnes.
- This achievement has revived debate on water stress, ecological sustainability, climate change, and virtual water exports, especially from north-western India.
Background: Rice in India’s Agrarian System
- Rice has been central to India’s food security strategy since the Green Revolution.
- Assured procurement under MSP, free/subsidised electricity, and irrigation created a rice–wheat monoculture in Punjab and Haryana.
- What was once a food security imperative has now become an ecological liability.
Facts Regarding Rice
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Agro-Climatic Requirements
- Kharif crop requiring:
- Temperature: >25°C
- Rainfall: >100 cm
- High humidity
- Thrives in water-retentive soils, making it suitable for monsoon regions but problematic in semi-arid zones.
Rice Cultivation Practices
1. Traditional Transplanted Paddy
- Seedlings grown in nurseries and transplanted.
- Requires continuous flooding.
- Consumes 25–27 irrigations per season.
- Maximises yield but is resource-intensive.
2. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR)
- Seeds drilled directly into fields.
- Reduces:
- Water use
- Labour requirement
- Energy consumption
- Crucial for water-stressed regions, but requires:
- Weed control
- Proper soil moisture management
Government Initiatives for Sustainability
Water Management
- Promotion of DSR, micro-irrigation under PMKSY.
- State incentives (e.g., Haryana crop diversification schemes).
Climate-Resilient Agriculture
- ICAR’s NICRA programme for drought-, heat- and salinity-tolerant rice.
Nutritional Security
- Fortified rice under NFSA and PM-POSHAN to tackle anaemia.
Climate Action
- Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) to reduce methane emissions.
- Rice practices integrated into India’s climate mitigation strategy.
Major Concerns Associated with Rice Cultivation
1. Groundwater Depletion
- 1 kg rice = 3,000–4,000 litres of water.
- In Punjab–Haryana:
- Water table fell from ~30 feet to 80–200 feet.
- Extraction exceeds recharge by 35–57% annually.
- Represents inter-generational ecological injustice, burdening future generations.
2. Environmental Degradation
- Flooded paddies create anaerobic conditions, emitting methane.
- Rice contributes 10–20% of India’s agricultural GHG emissions.
- Stubble burning worsens:
- PM2.5 pollution
- Winter smog in North India
3. Health Risks
- Use of arsenic-contaminated groundwater leads to arsenic accumulation in rice grains.
- Linked to:
- Cancer
- Neurological disorders
- Heavy pesticide use compounds toxicity.
4. Economic Stress on Farmers
- Rising costs of:
- Deeper borewells
- High-capacity pumps
- Punjab spends ₹39,000 per hectare on rice-related power and fertiliser subsidies.
- Small farmers face debt traps, while large farmers cope better.
5. Climate Vulnerability
- Climate change may reduce rice yields by 6–10%.
- Erratic monsoons threaten rainfed eastern India.
- Creates a water–energy–climate feedback loop:
- Subsidised power → over-extraction → higher emissions
Global Food Security Implications
- India supplies 40% of global rice exports.
- Any production shock can:
- Raise global prices
- Affect food-importing nations in Africa and Asia
- Makes India a systemically important player in global food markets.
Steps Required for Sustainable Rice Production
1. Reforming Subsidy Structures
- Shift from input subsidies to:
- Direct income support
- Payments for ecosystem services
- Ensure MSP and procurement for millets, pulses, oilseeds.
2. Technology & Water Efficiency
- Scale up:
- SRI
- AWD
- Micro-irrigation
- Promote genome-edited drought-tolerant rice.
- Use AI-based advisory systems to cut water use by 30–40%.
3. Institutional & Policy Measures
- Ban new borewells in critical zones.
- Promote community-led groundwater governance.
- Strengthen FPOs for collective action and diversification.
4. Climate Resilience & Diversification
- Break rice–wheat monoculture.
- Promote:
- Millets
- Agroforestry
- Crop rotation
- Support residue management and soil health cards.
5. Enhancing Farmer Incomes
- Expand PMFBY coverage.
- Develop:
- Cold chains
- Agro-processing units
- Rural non-farm employment
Conclusion
India’s dominance in global rice production highlights a critical water–energy–climate–health nexus. While rice remains vital for food security, unchecked expansion threatens ecological sustainability and farmer welfare. A transition toward diversification, subsidy reform, and climate-resilient practices is essential to reconcile food security with long-term sustainability.
UPSC PYQ
Q. In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture? (2020)
- Crop diversification
- Legume intensification
- Tensiometer use
- Vertical farming
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (a)
CARE MCQ
Q.
With reference to rice cultivation in India, consider the following statements:
- India became the world’s largest rice producer in 2025, overtaking China.
- Rice cultivation occupies nearly one-fourth of India’s total cropped area.
- Traditional transplanted paddy cultivation significantly reduces methane emissions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct: India overtook China in 2025.
• Statement 2 is correct: Rice occupies ~25% of cropped area.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Flooded paddies increase methane emissions.
