Rice-fallows: A hidden opportunity for enhancingfarm income and food security in India

Abstract

Rice-fallows are croplands that remain uncultivated after the harvesting of rice. It represent one of the most underutilised agricultural production systems in India, mainly in eastern and central regions. These areas remain fallow due to a range of constraints, including lack of irrigation, early withdrawal of monsoon rains resulting in soil moisture stress at sowing, excess soil moisture and waterlogging in lowlands, delayed harvest of long-duration rice varieties, soil physico-chemical limitations, severe weed infestation, terminal drought during reproductive stages, biotic stresses, open grazing, and socio-economic factors. Practices like adoption of suitable rice establishment methods, conservation agriculture practices, crop diversification, rainwater harvesting and on-farm water storage and integration of short-duration pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, and allied enterprises can substantially enhance land productivity, soil health, farm income, and nutritional security. This article presents the major constraints responsible for the persistence of rice-fallows
and practical strategies for their productive utilisation to enhance cropping intensity, farm income, food and nutritional security, and climate resilience.