• Dr. Anita Shrivastava
• Manish Kumar

Bihar, where floods and droughts are recurring disasters, is in Indo- Gangetic plains consisting the fertile soil, irrigated by the river Ganges and its tributaries as well as by the ground water resources. The 60 percent area of land is used for cultivation which is much higher than national average (42%).Though the whole of Bihar lies in a humid zone with an annual rainfall of more than 1200 mm which is sufficient for kharif crops like paddy and maize, but its occurrence and distribution of rains are highly erratic and distinctly seasonal in character. The consequences of such erratic climate become very severe in a region like Bihar where rice is the most important crop, grown in all 38 districts. In the absence of adequate rainfall most part of Bihar faces drought situations. 33 out of 38 districts were declared drought hit in 2013.Again in 2014, 28 districts were declared drought hit due to scanty rainfall which badly affected the transplanting of paddy and other crops. Any deficit/excess of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) on climatologically fixed dates influences agriculture in the state, especially rice. This crop is highly sensitive to drought so much so that the entire crop may fail for want of one or two critical watering. Here lies the significance of SRI Technique of paddy cultivation i.e.; an improved technique of rice cultivation which requires reduced irrigation. Intermittent irrigation’ or ‘Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method of irrigation is the distinguishing feature of SRI technique of rice cultivation. Bihar has been deprived of the benefits of Green Revolution but it has also remained untouched with the ill-effects of green revolution which resulted in the soil pollution and fertility reduction.SRI revolution which has sought by the Bihar government in its agricultural roadmap (2012-2017), may prove a ray of hope for drought- prone rice growing districts of Bihar by reducing water use for irrigation.

Drought prone, Rainfall, water resources, soil pollution, intermittent irrigation

"Irrigation Challenges amidst climate variability: Role and relevance of SRI Revolution in Bihar", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.3, Issue 10, page no.2029-2035, October-2016, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1701325.pdf

"Irrigation Challenges amidst climate variability: Role and relevance of SRI Revolution in Bihar", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.3, Issue 10, page no. pp2029-2035, October-2016, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1701325.pdf