Technological interventions to enhance rice productivity and profitability in rainfed lowlands of Asom

Abstract

Improved technological interventions are important to sustain production and productivity of rice. A study was conducted by Regional Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Station, ICAR–National Rice Research Institute, Gerua, Kamrup in four districts of lower brahmaputra valley and north bank plains agro-climatic zones of Asom during boro seasons from 2012–13 to 2016–17 to enhance productivity of boro rice through introduction of latest rice varieties and application of improved production technology. Performance of open-pollinated varieties, viz. Naveen, Chandrama and CR Dhan 909, and hybrids, viz. Ajay and Rajalaxmi under application of improved production technology were demonstrated. At all the locations, application of improved technologies showed superior results in terms of growth, yield attributes, productivity and profitability over local checks under farmers’ practice. Rice varieties with application of improved production technologies, increased mean grain yield by an average of 38.8% and extra earning of `18137/ha over existing farmer’s practice with only `3632/ha extra expenditure on inputs. The mean gap indices,viz.extension gap (1.56 t/ha), technology gap (0.96 t/ha), technology index (14.5%) and mean B:C (4.99) clearly indicated the superiority of technological demonstrations over farmers’ practices. The study also lays emphasis on the framing intensive technology transfer programmes like technological demonstrations on field to motivate the farmers for higher adoption rate of improved rice production technology.