Adoption and impact of conservation agriculture-based resource conserving technologies in South Asia
Material type:
TextLanguage: English Publication details: New Delhi (India) : 4th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, 2009.Subject(s):
In:
World Congress on Conservation Agriculture; 4: Innovations for improving efficiency, equity and environment p. 439-444Summary: The stagnation of productivity growth in South Asia?s rice-wheat systems has led to increased calls for conservation agriculture based resource conserving technologies. To date, most significant progress has been made with addressing the challenge of reducing tillage. After an initial rapid spread of tractor-drawn zero tillage drills particularly in the north-west Indo-Gangetic Plains, the zero/reduced tillage wheat area seems to have stabilized there between a fifth and a fourth of the wheat area. Conventional tillage for wheat continues to decline, with an increased use in rotavator making up the difference ? but its intensive shallow tillage goes against the conservation agriculture tenets. Zero tillage wheat allows for a drastic reduction in tillage intensity with significant costs savings as well as potential wheat yield increases. The cost-saving effect alone makes zero tillage profitable and is the main driver behind its spread. Zero tillage impacts so far have been primarily limited to the wheat crop. Moving rice-wheat systems towards conservation agriculture also implies tackling the challenges of reducing tillage for the subsequent rice crop, crop residue retention and diversification. Equity poses a final challenge and calls for a better understanding of livelihood implications and stakeholder dialogue/participation.
| Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conference paper | CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library | CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection | CIS-5468 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | A637926 |
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The stagnation of productivity growth in South Asia?s rice-wheat systems has led to increased calls for conservation agriculture based resource conserving technologies. To date, most significant progress has been made with addressing the challenge of reducing tillage. After an initial rapid spread of tractor-drawn zero tillage drills particularly in the north-west Indo-Gangetic Plains, the zero/reduced tillage wheat area seems to have stabilized there between a fifth and a fourth of the wheat area. Conventional tillage for wheat continues to decline, with an increased use in rotavator making up the difference ? but its intensive shallow tillage goes against the conservation agriculture tenets. Zero tillage wheat allows for a drastic reduction in tillage intensity with significant costs savings as well as potential wheat yield increases. The cost-saving effect alone makes zero tillage profitable and is the main driver behind its spread. Zero tillage impacts so far have been primarily limited to the wheat crop. Moving rice-wheat systems towards conservation agriculture also implies tackling the challenges of reducing tillage for the subsequent rice crop, crop residue retention and diversification. Equity poses a final challenge and calls for a better understanding of livelihood implications and stakeholder dialogue/participation.
Socioeconomics Program
Text in English
903
INT2677
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