Strategies for Efficient Use of Natural Resources to Sustain Agricultural Production in Indo-Gangetic plains

The natural resources are at stack and creating very alarming situation for the future under irrigated and rain fed conditions. The adoption of rice-wheat system in Indo-Gangetic plains greatly contributed to India’s food self-sufficiency and livelihood of millions of people. However, deterioration of soil health and its quality, ground water depletion and climate change are jeopardising the sustainability of rice-wheat cropping system. Traditional agronomic practices had various negative implications on the agricultural sustainability. The naturally available resources are now under threat because of their irrational use. A perspective strategic plan is delineated to efficiently utilize these resources so that the agricultural production can be made sustainable for long time. Some technologies for efficient management of water, soil and air resources have been suggested which can be helpful in saving irrigation water, maintain soil productivity and decrease climate change.