Implications of Monsoon Cropping Decisions on Wheat Sowing Dates in Bihar, Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains

Abstract

India is the second largest producer of wheat globally. However terminal heat stress during the grain filling period negatively impacts its yield potential. Increasing temperatures have intensified observed yield gaps and this trend is expected to continue. One way to mitigate this negative effect is by sowing wheat earlier, thereby shielding it from heat stress. But farming households in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) seldom sow wheat on time. This delay is often attributed to the rice-wheat crop rotation system practiced across the IGP where rice is planted during monsoon followed by wheat in winter. However, there is very little understanding of factors that influence monsoon cropping decisions in the IGP. This study investigates the socio-economic, biophysical, perceptual, and management factors influencing rice and wheat sowing date decisions in Arrah District, Bihar, India. The study is based on data collected from 355 farmers across 10 villages in Arrah. We found irrigation type, delay in monsoon onset dates, and soil type to be the major factors constraining timely sowing of rice and subsequently delaying wheat sow dates. Particularly, farmers who had access to borewell preponed rice sowing dates by a few weeks when compared to farmers who relied only on canal irrigation. These results suggest that in addition to climate variability, structural constraints also affect rice sowing dates. To ensure timely sowing and enable adaptation to increasing temperatures, therefore, policy interventions must also address the structural constraints that affect farmer decision making.