Rice-Wheat cropping system: Issues and Challenges Dr. Fahd Rasul (Outreach organizer, AgMIP) Assistant Professor, Agronomy, UAF.

RICE IMPORTERS

RICE EXPORTERS 10.8%

PAKISTAN: Area “000” Acres

PAKISTAN: PRODUCTION“000” Tons

PAKISTAN: YIELD (Kg/ ha)

Sindh 21% Punjab 69% 7% 3% 9% Sindh 30% Punjab 58% Baluchistan PROVINCE WISE CONTRIBUTION AREAPRODUCTION

YIELD GAP

BASMATI RICE

Coarse Rice (This is japonica rice)

Hybrid Rice

Basmati US$ 900 Coarse US$ 400 International market Rates/ Ton

Broadcasting of soaked seedDrilling of dry seed in wattar soil Manual Line transplanting Sprouted seed Broadcasting of sprouted seed in standing water

Rice-Wheat cropping Zone The rice-wheat cropping zone is the bread basket of Punjab-Pakistan Most of the area is irrigated in this system however, it also receives mm annual rainfall.

Rice crop Rice is 2 nd staple grain food of Pakistan Share in GDP is 0.6% and 2.7 % in value addition Two major groups -Basmati 48% of total rice production -irri (coarse rice) 52% of total rice production Wheat crop Wheat is 1 st staple grain food of Pakistan Share in GDP is 2.2% and 10.1 % in value addition Three major groups - Bold grain size -Medium grain size -Small grain size

Issues and challenges to Rice-Wheat system Climate change and variability Certified seeds Lack improved production technology Water problem Soil conditions Emission of green house gases Weeds problem Exhaustive crops Delay in sowing of wheat Terminal heat stress in wheat Insects/pests and Diseases

17 The Supply Chain System in Punjab Exporter Re-grading, packing shipment Marine Export Market Air Domestic Market Consumer Direct from farm Middle man Retailer Domestic Market Wholesaler (Grain market) Export Market Marine Export Market Air Marine Export Market Air Export Market Air Export Market shipment Air Export Market shipment Export Market Re-grading, packing shipment Export Market Re-grading, packing shipment Export Market Exporter shipment Export Market Exporter shipment Export Market Exporter grading, packing shipment Export Market Exporter shipment Export Market Storage Consumer Processing Rice Mills

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS Provision of certified seeds Improved and site specific production technology Development of climate resilient crops Sequestration of green house gases Mitigation and adaptation to climate change Surface seeding practice in Wheat Laser land leveling (Precision Agriculture) Cultivation of aerobic rice

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS Cont.. Bed planting of wheat Intensification of Rice-Wheat system Crop diversification Use of conservation tillage systems (Zero tillage, no till and reduced tillage practices) Integrated pest management Integrated nutrient management

CONCLUSION This system is cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy but its production is being threatened day by day due to change in climate AgMIP-ization