ADOPTION AND IMPACT OF IMPROVED RICE VARIETIES OF PJTSAU IN TELANGANA STATE
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Date
2021-07-01
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PROFFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Agricultural research systems all over the world are applauded for their major
contributions to food and nutritional security and poverty alleviation. The Indian
experience on the success of Green Revolution has made it clear that appropriate
technologies, supported by facilitating public policies and efficient institutions, can
transform smallholder agriculture. Systematic impact assessment studies relating to
returns to investment made by the institutions help to achieve specific research and
development objectives. The system now will require to regulate R&D in such a manner
that it not only complies with international commitments and scientific principles but also
seeks participation of stakeholders and incorporates social voice in decision making.
State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) occupy a major part in Indian Agricultural
Research leading to the development of location and climate specific technologies.
Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) is one such
SAU which continues to serve the farmers in increasing production and productivity in
agricultural and allied sectors through experimentation carried out by a strong network of
15 research stations strategically located in the three Agro-climatic zones. Developing
new crop varieties/ hybrids in tune with the changing needs, situations and circumstances
is a continuous research process and is a multi-disciplinary team effort. Rice is the staple
food crop feeding most of the world population. This validates the need for research in
rice crop in the areas of improving the yield, quality and resource productivity. So far, the
university has released 8 improved rice varieties, majority of which have been under
extensive cultivation by the farmers not only in Telangana state but also in neighbouring
states. Some of the prominent varieties are RNR 15048 (Telangana Sona), KNM 118
(Kunaram Sannalu) and JGL 18057 (Bathukamma). With this background, the study was
undertaken with the specific objectives to assess the impact of the improved rice varieties,
factors influencing the adoption of the varieties, contribution of the varieties in terms of
increasing rice productivity and income of the farmers and the constraints involved in the
adoption of the varieties and suggest suitable measures.
Wanaparthy, Karimnagar and Medak districts were selected for the study on the
basis of highest area coverage under RNR 15048 (Telangana Sona), KNM 118 (Kunaram
Sannalu) and JGL 18047 (Bathukamma) rice varieties, respectively. A total of 360
farmers (120 farmers for each variety) were considered for the study. The study was based
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on both primary and secondary data which were collected through field survey using pre tested schedule and various published sources. Descriptive analysis was done by working
out simple averages and percentages with respect to characteristics of sample farm
households, costs and returns and benefits from the improved rice varieties.
DREAM model developed by IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute)
was used to assess the ex-ante impact of the varieties developed by the University. Logit
model was employed to study the factors influencing the adoption of the improved
varieties of rice in the study area. The cost incurred to and the returns from the cultivation
of these varieties were computed. Garrett ranking technique was specially used for the
purpose of drawing valid conclusions on the constraints faced by the farmers.
Assumption-based and market-based variables were applied in the model which works
based on Economic Surplus Method. The results of the DREAM model revealed that both
RNR 15048 (IRR of 21.97% and 30.35% at 15 and 40 per cent adoption rates,
respectively) and KNM 118 (IRR of 21.76% and 30.96% at 10 and 30 per cent adoption
rates respectively) had producer surplus higher than consumer surplus. The total surplus
of RNR 15048 was ranging between ₹5525121 and ₹14740014. In the case of KNM 118,
the range of total surplus was from ₹3683096 to ₹11053103 depending on the rate of
adoption of the variety with study area. JGL 18047 showed negative surplus because of
the reduced yield compared to other varieties cultivated in the area. Hence, an additional
scenario was considered in which the yield of JGL 18047 was higher than the other
varieties compared such as MTU 1010, MTU 1156 and MTU 1153. In that case, the
variety exhibited positive surplus. Therefore, RNR 15048 and KNM 118 varieties were
found to be profitable to both the consumers and producers whereas that is not the case
for JGL 18047 which was mainly due to the lesser yield than the other varieties cultivated
in the area.
Extent of adoption was assessed based on the seed distribution under subsidised
price by Telangana Government. The data collected from the office of Agriculture
Commissioner during 2018-19 and 2019-20 indicated that the quantity of seed disbursed,
the area under adoption and the number of beneficiaries benefitted out of the Government
seed delivery system increased for the varieties RNR 15048 and KNM 118 whereas the
extent of adoption got decreased for JGL 18047. This indicates that the farmers started
abandoning JGL 18047 while the extent of adoption was considerably increasing for the
other two varieties RNR 15048 and KNM 118. The factors influencing adoption of the
varieties were found out using the limited dependent variable model, Logit,
computationally easier to use and leads itself to a meaningful interpretation than the other
types. The results from Logit model revealed that off-farm income, access to credit,
perception about disease and pest resistance were found to be the factors influencing the
adoption of RNR 15048 (Telangana Sona) rice variety with Wald χ2
values 14.36, 8.49
and 6.81, respectively. Similarly, the availability of off-farm income, contact with
extension agency and perception of high yield were observed to be influencing the
adoption of KNM 118 (Kunaram Sannalu) variety with Wald χ2
values of 14.81, 11.50
and 12.48 respectively. And contact with extension agent and perception of high yield
were found to be highly influencing the adoption of JGL 18047 (Bathukamma) variety
with corresponding Wald χ2
values of 11.24 and 13.48, respectively. Based on the results
obtained from the Logit model for all the three varieties, off- farm income, contact with
extension agency, perception of high yield and pest and disease resistance were found to
be predominantly influencing the adoption decisions of the improved rice varieties of
PJTSAU. Knowing these factors will help in streamlining the varietal Research and
Development process through inculcating more of such traits in the varietal development
process.
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The cost of cultivation of RNR 15048 was found to be lesser when compared to the
other varieties grown in Wanaparthy district. Hence, the net returns (₹45005.27/ha) of the
farmers cultivating RNR 15048 variety was found to be 22.86 per cent higher than the
famers cultivating varieties other than RNR 15048 (₹37617.99/ha). The difference in cost
of cultivation may be mainly attributed to the higher cost of plant protection incurred
towards long adopted BPT 5204 variety (under other rice varieties). Thus, RNR 15048
was found better economically when compared to the other varieties grown in the study
area. In case of KNM 118 (Kunaram Sannalu), the major contributor for the difference in
cost of cultivation for other varieties was fertilizer cost which may be for the farmers’
perception that higher use of fertilizers cause lodging of KNM 118 crop. The net returns
(₹40860.40/ha) of the farmers cultivating KNM 118 variety was found to be 4.16 per cent
higher than the famers cultivating other varieties (₹39226.88/ha). Coming to JGL 18047
variety which was cultivated mostly around Medak district, the other varieties grown in
the area were found to incur lesser cost of cultivation (₹83049.76/ha) when compared to
JGL 18047 (Bathukamma) variety (₹84363.45/ha). This might be owed to the reason that
JGL 18047 incurred 19.01 per cent more cost on plant protection in comparison with the
other varieties grown in the study area. Out of all the three varieties taken for the study,
RNR 15048 (Telangana Sona) was found to have a better economic performance when
compared to other two varieties KNM 118 and JGL 18047. This showed that RNR 15048
and KNM 118 outperformed the other varieties grown in the study area.
Pest incidence, lower grain weight and less shelf life of cooked rice were the
foremost problems reported by the farmers adopting RNR 15048 (Telangana Sona) rice
variety with respective Garrett scores of 40.75, 36.23 and 31.79. Declining yield over
years and lodging were the most pressing problems reported by the farmers cultivating
KNM 118 (Kunaram Sannalu) with Garrett scores of 49.30 and 40.70 respectively.
Lodging of crops before harvest, shattering of grains in Rabi and lower grain weight were
prominently reported by the farmers who adopted JGL 18047 (Bathukamma) with Garrett
scores of 41.95, 40.13 and 31.62 respectively. Repeated adoption of all the three varieties
were primarily decided by the consistency of yield and disease & pest resistance shown
by the varieties. Lower grain weight, varietal rotation and lodging were the reasons
reported by majority of the farmers for dropping out the adoption of the varieties RNR
15048, KNM 118 and JGL 18047, respectively. Farmers’ perception on varietal rotation
to be done for consistent yield has led to variety replacement by the more recent
generation of farmers. Indiscriminate use of plant protection chemicals and non-adoption
of recommended dose of fertilizers and planting time were few among the other reasons
which were contributing to some of the problems reported by the adopters. These
problems can be solved by creation of proper awareness among farmers regarding the
planting time, recommended fertiliser doses with its benefits and the difference between
varietal rotation and crop rotation.
The overall analysis of the study revealed a positive impact of the improved rice
varieties on the sample households. The adoption of the varieties developed by the
university was found to be increasing in study area every year except for JGL 18047
(Bathukamma). To overcome the problems revealed by sample farmers, certain policy
recommendations were put forth for sustainable development of crop improvement. Few
of the important suggestions are establishing linkage between scientists and extension
personnel for tracking down the path of the variety dissemination and thereby ensuring
better follow up of the varieties, strengthening research through development of varieties
which shows consistent yield under all agro-climatic conditions, building up extension
services through awareness campaigns about the varieties before every sowing season
and increasing investment on the development of varieties considering market preference.