Enhancing rice yields and farmer livelihoods through improved seed varieties under tribal sub plan

Introduction

Paddy is the second most extensively cultivated crop in the Mancherial district next to cotton and is also grown in selected pockets of Kumuram Bheem Asifabad, an aspirational district of Telangana. Despite the expansion in cultivated area, productivity levels in both districts remain below the potential yield. The major constraints identified include limited availability of quality, high-yielding varieties and suboptimal crop management practices. The area under paddy cultivation in Mancherial district witnessed a substantial increase expanding from 39,548 hectares during 2018-19 to 65,431 hectares in 2019-20. This sharp rise was primarily attributed to improvements in groundwater availability and the completion of irrigation infrastructure projects which encouraged farmers to shift towards paddy cultivation. Agriculture continues to be the principal livelihood source for Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in rural Telangana. However, low crop productivity, inadequate access to improved inputs and limited exposure to scientific farming practices have constrained farm income and livelihood security. The Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) are targeted policy initiatives aimed at ensuring equitable resource allocation and socio-economic advancement of these marginalized communities. In this context, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bellampalli implemented systematic interventions in paddy cultivation under TSP in Mancherial and Kumuram Bheem Asifabad districts where paddy is a major kharif crop. The interventions emphasized the distribution of high-yielding varieties, promotion of scientific nutrient management and implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. The present investigation was therefore undertaken to assess the impact of these interventions on crop productivity, rice yield enhancement and economic returns of beneficiary farmers intern livelihood security.

Materials and Methods

After the establishment of Krishi Vigyan Kendra in the year 2018 at Bellampalli mandal of Mancherial district. KVK Bellampalli conducted detailed socio-economic survey, need assessment in the adopted tribal villages and DFI (Doubling of Farmers Income) villages in accordance with the guidelines i.e., the tribal population should be more than 90 per cent. The survey report and need assessment study revealed that majority (95 per cent) of the farmers having poor knowledge on the high yielding new paddy varieties followed by (94 per cent) of the famers were unaware of new innovative technologies and having less knowledge on the best management practices in getting the higher yields. ) recorded a yield of 5275 kg ha⁻ ¹, which was 2.3% lower than the locally available varieties this may be due to tolerant to cold at nursery stage, less shattering and non-lodging characteristics as mentioned above and also the higher yield observed in these varieties may be attributed to their improved genetic potential, better adaptability to local conditions and favourable yield-contributing traits. These findings highlight the advantage of improved rice cultivars in maximizing yield compared with traditional or farmer-saved varieties. In contrast, Improved Sambamashuri (RP Bio-226) recorded a slightly lower yield than the local varieties despite having a relatively lower cost of cultivation.

The lower yield might be associated with varietal characteristics such as its tolerance to cold at the nursery stage, reduced shattering and non-lodging nature, which may influence growth duration or yield components under the given field conditions.

Although the yield was comparatively lower, the variety still recorded a slightly higher B:C ratio than the local varieties due to reduced cultivation costs. Overall, the results suggest that JGL 24423 followed by KNM 118 and JGL 18047 are more productive and economically profitable compared to the locally available rice varieties. Therefore, promotion and adoption of these improved varieties could significantly enhance rice productivity and profitability for farmers under similar agroclimatic conditions. Economic analysis indicated that JGL 24423 recorded the highest gross returns (Rs. 108,625 ha⁻ ¹), net returns (Rs. 55,412 ha⁻ ¹) and B:C ratio (2.05) followed by KNM 118 with net returns of Rs. 53,075 ha⁻ ¹ and B:C ratio of 2.00 and JGL 18047 with net returns of Rs. 51,065 ha⁻ ¹ and B:C ratio of 1.97. Although RP Bio-226 had a relatively lower cost of cultivation (Rs. 50,500 ha⁻ ¹), its lower yield resulted in gross returns of Rs. 92,312 ha⁻ ¹, net returns of Rs. 41,813 ha⁻ ¹ and a B:C ratio of 1.82. Overall, higher net returns and B:C ratio were recorded with JGL 24423 followed by KNM 118, JGL 18047, and RP Bio-226, whereas the lowest net returns and B:C ratio were recorded with the locally available rice varieties, indicating the superior performance of JGL 24423 and KNM 118 under the study conditions. The higher profitability from this variety was mainly due to its higher grain yield without a substantial increase in cost of cultivation. Similarly, KNM 118 and JGL 18047 also recorded higher net returns and B:C ratios compared to the locally available varieties, confirming their economic viability for cultivation under the study conditions. The improved economic returns from these varieties demonstrate that adoption of high-yielding varieties can significantly enhance farm income.

Conclusion

Tribal Sub plan has played a significant role in adopting high yielding newly released varieties in Mancherial and Kumurambheem Asifabad districts in Telangana because of continuous capacity building programmes, exposure visits to fields where on farm trails were conducted. The impact of TSP was reflected through the increase in yields, net returns and B: C Ratio by adopting KNM 118, JGL 18047, JGL 24423 and RP BIO-226 when compared with locally cultivated varieties.

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