Rice-wheat systems provide food security and livelihoods for over 400 million people in the Eastern Gangetic Plains. Increasingly, erratic precipitation patterns complicate farmers’ decisions around planting and irrigation with cascading effects for system productivity. This research project aims to study the key constraints and opportunities that farmers face regarding these activities by taking a holistic perspective on the agricultural system and investigating the implications for food security and poverty reduction. The results will deepen the understanding of the complex interactions of the studied system and will provide recommendations for policies and projects on food security and poverty reduction.