Socio-economic impact of paddy variety Indrayani on livelihood of paddy growers

Introduction

Paddy is one of the important cereal crop cultivated globally. India is the second-largest producer of rice in the world, after China. The India's estimated production for the year 2023-24 is projected to be 133 million tones (Anonymous, 2023) [3] .In the state of Maharashtra paddy is a vital cereal crop grown in kharif season. Bhor Tehsil from Pune district is one of the predominant tehsil having paddy as a major crop. Bhor tehsil has the distinction of having highest productivity of paddy in the district. Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth has significant contribution in release of promising paddy varieties, viz. Indrayani, Bhogawati, Phule Samruddhi and Phule Radha and development and transfer of paddy production technology. The Rice Research Station, VadgaonMaval developed and released Paddy variety Indrayani in 1987. The variety gained popularity across the rice growing belt within western Maharashtra due to its qualitative attributes. viz., less shattering of gains, high productivity, high market demand as scented variety. Also as a result of the efforts of technology transfer made in the College Development Block, Bhor, more than 80.00 per cent area from Bhor tehsil has been covered under Indrayani variety. Hence, it was felt necessary to study the impact of this variety on the socioeconomic aspects of paddy growers. Objectives 1. To study the personal, socio-economic characteristics of Paddy growers. 2. To study the impact of Paddy variety Indrayani on socio-economic aspects of paddy growers.

Methodology

The study was conducted in Pune District from Maharashtra State Pune district consists of fourteen tahsils and out of these, Bhor and Maval tehsils were purposively selected as Indrayani is the major variety grown by the farmers and area under this variety is substantially increased over last three decades. From the list of paddy growers, 100 respondents from Bhortahsil and 40 respondents from Maval tehsil were selected. Accordingly, the total sample size of 140 farmers was considered for the study. The respondents were selected by employing simple random sampling technique. In order www.extensionjournal.com

to study the varietal impact, year 2012-13 was considered as base year and impact was measured in terms of change in social political participation, land use pattern, land utilization, input use, farm mechanization. irrigation status, farm implements, production, productivity and yield of paddy crop over last decade. An interview schedule, in line with the objectives determined, was developed for obtaining the necessary information from respondents. The data was collected from the paddy growers by personal interview method. Ex post facto research design was used. Data were analyzed, categorized by using frequency and percentage to know the change in each aspect over the considered time period. 1 reveals that membership of SHG's continued to be the most important avenue of social participation followed by youth club, bhajanimandal and co-operative society. The resulta are supported by Abbas Ali C. and Jiang Y. (2018) [1] . The results revealed in table 5 indicate that there was overall increase in the use of agricultural inputs, viz; improved seed, chemical fertilizers, micronutrients, bio-fertilizers and biocontrol agents. The proportion of preparing and applying FYM / Compost was replaced by purchasing and applying it. There was substancial increase in use of bio-fertilizers and bio-control agents as a result of promotional policies for organic and natural farming. It was observed that there was 5.71 and 5.00 per cent increase, respectively, in the number of tractors and power tillers owned over the period of ten years under study. Also the number of submersible pumps and electric motors increased to the tune of 9.28 and 17.86 per cent, respectively. This might be due to climate change induced dry spells that necessitated irrigation of paddy fields. The modern irrigation systems of drip and sprinkler increased during the past five years under comparative study as 7.86 and 2.14 per cent of the respondents, respectively, installed these systems. Similar findings were obtained by Kumar, A. Tripathi, G. and Joshi, P.K. (2021) [7] . The study revealed that the paddy farmers owned the different types of agricultural implements upto the base year from which the implements namely harrows, seed drills and wooden ploughs decreased until 2022-23 as they became obsolete on account of increased mechanization and use of hired tractors and tractor drawn implements. However, the implements sprayers, hoes and chaff cutters increased during the period under study due to their perceived and actual utility. Similar results were obtained by Dharmalingam P. and et al. (2021) [4] and Abebaw,A. et al.((2022) [2] . There was steady increase, approximately more or less than 20.00 per cent, in the purchases of household items viz. refrigerator, LPG gas connections,concrete house etc.s excluding television sets which showed an increase of 31.43 per cent. This increase in number of television sets might be attributed to introduction of LED technology in television. Similar findings were obtained by Abebaw,A. et al.((2022) [2] . The steady increase in yield and income was noticed over last decade. Average yield per hectare has revealed an increasing trend over the study period, but the yield levels have reached near saturation potential. The results are supported by Dharmalingam P. and et al. (2021) [4] , Roslina Kamaruddin and et al. (2023) [9] .

Findings Impact of Indrayani variety on paddy growers Social impact

Economic impact

Conclusion

The results have indicated that there has been improvement in various socio-economic aspects of paddy growers cultivating Indrayani variety. Their yield and income levels from paddy crop, the main staple cereal, have been increased steadily and sustained over a period of more than three decades on account of this variety. The variety has still maintained its promising market potential and helped sustain the farmers' livelihood.

Recommendation

The research indicated that the Paddy variety Indrayani is very crucial in sustaining the yield and income level of paddy growers. Hence, it is necessary to take efforts to create awareness and increase the area under this variety in other rice growing tracts of Maharashtra by the State Department of Agriculture.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementAuthors express sincere gratitude towards university authorities, field level staff of College Development Block, farmers for providing platform to conduct research study, their support during data collection and noting field observations.

References

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