ABSTRACT

Recent analyses indicate that resource degradation is adversely affecting agricultural productivity in South Asia, particularly in the rice-wheat system. Despite current food grain surpluses driven by price policies, a number offactors-including poverty, population growth, and environmental concerns-mean that it remains important to sustain productivity over the long term. Many factors have contributed to past productivity growth in South Asia's rice-wheat system, including advances in agricultural research and development, expansion of irrigation infrastructure, and increased use of inorganic fertilizer. Likewise, many factors will be necessary to sustain productivity in the future.