Impact of front line demonstration on rice yield and economics through wet direct sowing in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh

Introduction

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most significant food crops in the world and more than half of the world's population depends on rice. It is the primary dietary source after wheat and provides 43% of the calories needed by over two-thirds of Indians. Therefore, increasing rice production and productivity is essential for eliminating hunger, guaranteeing food security, and serving as a necessary precondition for long-term economic growth (O'donnell, 2010) [7] . In India Rice crop occupies an area of 478 L ha with a production of 1378 L T and productivity of 2882 kg/ha. Whereas in Andhra Pradesh, it grows in an area of 19 L ha with a production of 74 L T and productivity of 3822 kg/ha [Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare, Govt. of India, 2023-24]. In West Godavari district, paddy is the major crop grown during Rabi with an area of 0.89 L ha, production and productivity of 4.97 lakh T, 5570 kg/ha, respectively [Department of Agriculture and Farmers welfare, Govt. of India, 2023-24]. At present, in west Godavari district rice is cultivated by transplanting method by raising nursery for about 30 days. Later seedlings are pulled and transplanted manually in a zigzag manner without proper spacing in the main field after puddling. The Majority of farmers use over aged seedlings due to delayed monsoon. The cost of production for various activities has increased by 33% for seed, 45% for chemical fertilizers, 100% for labor, and 35% to 40% for tillage operations over the past five years (Bharath et al., 2022) [3] . "The cost of transplanting alone is almost 15% of the overall cost of producing rice, and yield loss is sustained when transplantation is postponed because of a labour shortage" (Ponnuswamy et al., 2005) [8] . Rice is a water intensive crop. impending water crisis and increasing labour costs have forced to search for the alternative crop establishments from traditional transplanting. Due to the challenges of maintaining the nursery, the unpredictable and delayed arrival of rains, the high cost of labour and the off-farm migration of agricultural workers, farmers were forced to use alternative transplanting techniques. Direct-seeded rice cultivation (DSR), in which seeds are sown directly in the field, requires less labor than conventional transplanted rice cultivation (TPR), in which seedlings grown in a nursery must be transplanted into the field (Kumar and Ladha, 2011) [5] . Direct seeding can cut labor requirements by more than 20% in terms of working hours needed, replacing the labor-intensive and costly process of transplanting of rice seedlings." (Santhi et al., 1998) [10] . Direct seeding is an alternative rice cultivation technology that can reduce the labour and energy requirements for crop establishment and the demand for irrigation water. It offers faster and easier planting, reduces labour requirement, crop maturity 7-10 days earlier, more efficient water use and less methane emission and often higher profit in areas with an assured water supply. Globally, the DSR technology has demonstrated efficacy in conserving water and increasing rice yield; at present, it accounts for 23% of rice production (Rao et al., 2007) [9] . Due to the development of early-maturing varieties, better nutrient management techniques, and increased accessibility to chemical weed control measures, many farmers in northern and eastern India transitioned from puddled transplanted rice to direct seeded rice (DSR) production (Meena et al., 2022) [6] . However, due to a number of variables, DSR yields are less constant than transplant yields. In DSR, rice plants must compete with weeds after germination, which is likely to result in low crop growth due to insufficient weed control (Rao et al., 2007) [9] . Apart from the sowing techniques unawareness of the farmers about the improved high yielding varieties and adoption of proper package of practices are also the reasons responsible for reducing the production and productivity of paddy (Abraham et al., 2017) [1] . Keeping this in view KVK, Undi has conducted front line demonstrations on wet direct sowing with package of practices in rice with a objective of impact of wet direct sowing with package of practices on not only rice crop productivity but also cost benefit performance in farmers fields of West Godavari district.

Materials and Methods

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Undi has carried out Front Line demonstrations on wet direct sowing with package of practices in rice in farmers' fields of West Godavari district during Rabi season for two consecutive years i.e., 2023-24 and 2024-25. Trial was conducted in 05 locations every year thus making a total of 10 demonstrations in farmers fields of Akiveedu and Siddhapuram villages. Each FLD plot was in 0.4 ha. Existing farmers practice is traditional transplanting method. While Seed rate: 15 kg/acre, wet seed treatment with carbendazim @ 1g/litre, vvariety: MTU-1121 (non lodging, medium slender, medium duration, high yielding), Planting method: broadcasting, Pre emergence application of Pyrazosulfuron ethyl @ 80-100 g/acre, Post emergence application of 2,4-D Na salt @ 500 g/acre was displayed in demo plot (Table 1). A total of 10 farmers were selected based on their innovativeness, progressive and activeness in adoption of latest technologies with the help of department officials and direct observation during field visits and interactive meetings. Trainings to farmers, Field days and group meetings were also organized and good agricultural practices in rice crop to provide the opportunities for other farmers to witness the benefits of demonstrated technologies. The KVK Scientists used to visit to the demonstrations plots and farmer's plot (control) on regular basis for close supervision and data collection during the entire process of demonstration programme. During two years apart from yield data, economics were also recorded from assessment plots and control plot separately at the time of harvest.

Results and Discussion Yield

The higher rice yield recorded under demonstration plot was 9000, 8430 and 8715 kg/ha during 2023-24, 2024-25 and in pooled data respectively (Table 2). The yield enhancement due to the improved practices was to the tune of 3.23, 2.18 and 2.70 per cent over farmers' practice. Yield enhancement in rice and other crops under frontline demonstration has amply been documented by Goto et al., 2025 [4] , Abraham et al., 2017 [1] . [11] , Bairwa et al., 2019 [2] .

Conclusion

From the above study, it can be concluded that wet direct sowing with package of practices is performing well in farmers fields of West Godavari district under Front line demonstrations in terms of yield, gross returns, net returns and farmers got high Benefit cost ratio besides overcome the problem of labour shortage compared to transplanting method of rice cultivation.

References

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