Farmers’ fields in much of the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia are typically uneven. This poses a significant management challenge to agronomic management where flood irrigation is applied. If fields are not level, the water and associated energy required to irrigate are significantly higher. Laser land leveling is an advanced technology that offers a 'fail safe' and efficient approach to ensuring field uniformity. Significant gains in profitability (ca. $150 per hectare per year) are achievable in rice-wheat systems through a combination of cost-savings and higher yields.

Leveling with local implements is typically ineffective, and farmers can increasingly access leveling through affordable fee-for-service models