EVALUATION OF HYBRID RICE TECHNOLOGY: AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY IN ENHANCING AND STABILIZING INCOME OF RICE GROWING TRIBAL FARMERS OF UTTARAKHAND, INDIA

H.N. SINGH¹*, J. SINGH², A. RUHELA³, O.P. MAURAYA^4
1Department of Agricultural Economics, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263145, India
²Department of Agricultural Economics, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263145, India
³Department of Entomology, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263145, India
⁴Department of Agricultural Economics, R.S. M. (P.G.) College, Dhampur, 246761, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, 243006, Uttar Pradesh, India
* Corresponding Author : hns_eco@rediffmail.com

Received : 16-10-2018     Accepted : 26-10-2018     Published : 30-10-2018
Volume : 10     Issue : 20       Pages : 7390 - 7394
Int J Agr Sci 10.20 (2018):7390-7394

Keywords : Hybrid rice, Tribes, Costs and returns, Income, Equity, Distribution
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Delhi for financial support for the project entitled ‘Tribal Sub-Plan’. Authors are also thankful to 89 tribal farmers of Kalsi block district Dehradun and G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263 145, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The present study was undertaken in tribal villages of Community Development block Kalsi, district Dehradun of Uttarakhand state. Objective of this paper is to evaluate hybrid rice technology to ensure to the long-term food security and better livelihood of tribal farming community in the targeted areas. Through this study we could able to ascertain the impact of hybrid rice production technology in enhancing and stabilizing income of tribal rice growing farmers. Farm income distribution pattern among tribal farmers was considered as a major parameter to assess the impact of technology on household income. Farm-level data of 89 randomly selected households was used to analyze the input demand and income of rice growing households during 2013-14. The average yield of hybrid was 45 % higher than the HYVs viz: Pantdhan 4, 10, 11, 12 etc. being grown on the farms in surveyed area. Based on analysis, it is found that compared with conventional modern varieties Pantdhan 4, 10, 11 and 12, the promising hybrid (Arize 6444) uses about 3% less input. Analysis revealed that, given the same level of inputs, the grain yield and net return of hybrid is potentially higher by 45% and 58%, respectively, than the series of Pantdhan growing varieties in targeted area. Out of total annual income, farm income which was Rs.1,00,437/- /households in the base year 2011-12 increased up to Rs.1,12,288/- in 2013-14 due to increased production. Variability of farm-level income between these two periods also narrow down with increase in average income of households. Policies for hybrid rice research, extension approach for large-scale adoption and their impact on households’ rice economy and food security are discussed in this study.

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