High yielding varieties for increasing rice production of rainfed shallow lowlands in Eastern India

Abstract

In India, rice is grown in about 43 mha of the land of which 16 million ha area is under rainfed lowland ecology. The vast area of 22 mha representing about 45% of rice area is cultivated as a rainfed crop which produces a very low production. About 92% of rainfed lowland areas are located in the eastern region of the country. Depending upon the water depth and duration of waterlogging in the lowland ecology during the growth period of rice, the lowland rice is classified into rainfed shallow lowland, semi-deep, deep, and very deep water or floating type ecosystem. The rainfed shallow lowland is characterized by water accumulation of 0-50 cm that faces frequent drought and flash flood. Sizeable rice areas of eastern India are existing under shallow lowlands with low production. Impact of the Green Revolution has sidelined the eastern Indian rainfed shallow lowland ecology. However, this neglected ecosystem has tremendous potential to increase the yield and total production as a whole.