The primary aim of the present study was to portray the socio-economic and techno-physical barriers in efficient
crop management in the rice-wheat farming system of Punjab and to suggest the policy options to remove them.
Data from 3 main districts from rice-wheat tract of Punjab was collected during 2003-04 season using multistage
sampling procedure. The major constraints faced by the farmers in crop management were diagnosed to be
unhealthy and poorly treatfed seed. Continuous sequential cropping in crop management did lead to heavy
infestation of weeds and resistant pest population. Shortage of irrigation water was acute and farm mechanization
not up to required standards. There were institutional problems related to marketing and credit availability and
there was vast scope and desirability of mechanical rice transplanter and no-tillage technology for wheat to offset
difficulties of labour shortages at critical stages.
