Saikia, HemantaBURAGOHAIN, RABIJITA2023-11-222023-11-222021https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810201722Weather parameters play a very significant role in the diversity of agriculture from region to region. The impact of weather parameters on crop health is mostly influenced by the variabilities in local or regional climate rather than the global climate patterns. Assam is well-recognized for its rich genetic diversity of rice. The climatic condition and geographical location cause greater production of rice over the past in Assam. Winter rice is the leading rice crop, accounting for a major portion of the total rice production in Assam as well as in India. In this study, an attempt has been made to find a better implementable plan for the farmers and policy makers to increase the winter rice productivity in North Bank Plains Zone (NBPZ) of Assam by analyzing over thirty years of data. NBPZ is one of the main regions, where most of its livelihood depends on agriculture. The purpose of the study was to analyze the trend of area, production and productivity of winter rice and to estimate the impact of weather parameters in winter rice productivity in NBPZ of Assam. Moreover, the analysis also revealed inter-district and intra-district variation of weather impacts on winter rice productivity. Overall thirty years of secondary data were evaluated for the study. To make a more clear vision, again data were sub-divided into three decadal periods viz. period I (1988-89 to 1997-98), period II (1998-99 to 2007-08) and period III (2008-09 to 2017-18) respectively. Different statistical tools viz. homogeneity test and change point detection of the data series over the decadal and overall thirty years were evaluated. Pettitt‟s test and Buishand‟s test were used to confirm the change point of the period. The robust non-parametric Mann-Kendall test confirmed the trend pattern of winter rice productivity in NBPZ along with Sen‟s slope estimate of the rate of change per year of area, production and productivity. Although, stepwise multiple linear regression was performed to estimate the effects of climate change on winter rice productivity. The four weather parameters viz. maximum temperature, minimum temperature, rainfall and rainy days were considered for weather impact assessment. These parameters possess the most significant fluctuations in the NBPZ of Assam. Analyzing over thirty years of the dataset for the aggregate of NBPZ also resulted that the productivity of winter rice being highly influenced by maximum temperature and minimum temperature. Although, Period III of Sonitpur and Lakhimpur district, the number of rainy days were found significant for winter rice productivity. The analysis over the past decades of NBPZ was to provide essential information to the agricultural planner and policymakers responsible for designing efficient agricultural policies and for making significant decisions concerning resources allocation for the development of the agricultural sector in NBPZ as well as for Assam. The study revealed that the NBPZ is not limited to studying climate-resilient productivity of winter rice only, there is a great need for implementation of effective measures as crop production and productivity has a greater influence on the socio-economic needs of the people. Keywords: Winter rice, NBPZ, weather parameters, MK-test, Stepwise multiple linear regression. .EnglishThesis