Indo-Gangetic Plains Research
The food systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) are largely dependent on rice and wheat grown in rotation. As seasonal weather greatly affects yield (by directly affecting crop growth and indirectly affecting management), there is concern that changes in climate, especially changes in climate variability, will exacerbate the observed trend. Moreover, the highly-intensive production in large parts of the region is a major source of greenhouse gases and is seriously degrading regional water supplies.
Regional features
The western region (sub-regions 1, 2 & 3) is a food surplus region characterised by higher investment, high productivity, heavy use of fertilisers and ground-water for irrigation, and an influx of labour. In contrast, the eastern region (sub-regions 4 & 5) is a food deficit region characterised by low productivity, low inputs of fertilizer and water, risk of flooding, poor infrastructure and labour emigration.
Regional policy priorities
Policies priorities for both regions are to (i) enhance agricultural competitiveness while limiting further environmental degradation; (ii) develop food systems which enhance the social security of the more vulnerable; and (iii) create more rural employment opportunities to reduce labour migration and urbanisation.
Research questions
Western region
- How climate change and increasing non-farm demands for water affect water supply and demand and the resulting vulnerability of the food system?
- How can changes in water management (eg through better policies, landuse strategies and community participation) and energy-efficient technologies reduce food system vulnerability to climate variability and other environmental change?
- How will alternative approaches to resource-conservation affect rural livelihoods, intra-regional trade, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, and water tables?
Eastern region
- How will resource-poor farmers’ vulnerability to flooding and drought be affected by environmental change, and how will this exacerbate socioeconomic inequities?
- What early warning systems would help stakeholders identify regions of potential insecurity? What infrastructure options need to be developed to diversify crops and so better use flood and groundwater? W hat are the social constraints to their adoption?
- How would diversification and increased government interventions affect food systems, rural income, equity, labour migration, employment, water use and quality, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions?
Please click here to see a list of all meetings held in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
The Science Plan and Implementation Strategy for this region will be available soon, here.