Dr. B. C. Viraktamath Project Director Directorate of Rice Research

1. Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern Region Increasing rice production in Eastern India by promoting hybrid rice as well as other technologies Dr. B. C. Viraktamath Project Director Directorate of Rice Research

2. Region -wise rice area, production and productivity (mean of 2002-2007) Eastern India has the great potential to enhance rice production in the coming years

3. Rice Area (%) in Eastern region – Ecology-wise Floating Deep water Semi-deep water Upland Rainfed lowland Total area = 23.4 Mha

4. Rice Production and Productivity in Different Ecologies

5. State-wise rice area, production and productivity during 2005-2006(In Eastern region)

6. Production constraints in Eastern India • Physical • Over dependence on unpredictable monsoon • Frequent drought/floods • Low light intensity during kharif • Technical • Slow spread of HYV’s • Lower use of fertilizers/other inputs • Low seed replacement rate • Extension • Weak extension machinery • Lower credit facilities

7. Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India “Green Revolution in eastern India should be ushered in based on the principles of sustainability, soil health and environmental protection” Increasing the yields should not be the only criteria that has derailed the sustainability of rice production system

8. Bringing green revolution to the east : needs caution • Lessons learnt from green revolution in other parts of the country • Over-emphasis on input intensive technologies • Excessive and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers leading to micro nutrient deficiencies • Neglecting the use of organics in rice cultivation • Excessive exploitation of ground water leading to soil problems • Over dependent on chemical based pest control leading to environmental pollution • Benefited only the medium and large farmers

9. Strategies for bringing green revolution in Eastern India • Adoption of new high yielding varieties • Strengthening seed production and encouraging seed replacement rate • Increasing area under hybrid rice • Encouraging balanced use of fertilizers (INM, SSNM) • Enhanced use of organics • Adoption of IPM practices to control pests/diseases • Increasing irrigation facilities and judicious use of water • Increasing area under boro rice wherever ground water is abundant

10. Adoption of High Yielding Varieties in Eastern India IR-Irrigated; RSL-Rainfed shallow lands; RUP-Rainfed uplands;

11. Most popular rice varieties in Eastern India

12. Rice varieties released during the last 5 years for Eastern India

13. Hybrid Rice One of the key components that can help in bringing green revolution to Eastern India. The potential is seen already as the region is leading in hybrid rice cultivation.

14. The Need for Hybrid Rice • Rapidly increasing population • Plateuing yield trend of HYV’s. • Declining resources (Land, Water) • Yield advantage of hybrids (15-20%) over varieties Hybrid Rice is one of the practically feasible and readily adoptable technologies to enhance productivity of rice in the country.

15. Eastern India: Harbinger of hybrid rice cultivation • Appreciable yield advantage of the hybrids over the inbred varieties (30-40%) • Farmers’ enthusiasm in accepting the technology • Hybrid rice quality suiting to the requirement of the people in the region • Aggressive marketing strategies by the private seed companies

16. Evaluation of Hybrids • Total hybrids evaluated : 2000 • Hybrids Released : 43 • Public Sector hybrids : 28 • Private Sector hybrids : 15 • Central Releases : 20 • State Releases : 23

17. Hybrids Released by CSCCSN&RV

18. BPT-5204 DRRH-3 Hybrid with medium slender grain type DRRH-3

19. Hybrids available for cultivation in different states Besides private sector is selling 30-40 non notified hybrids in the region

22. Hybrid rice cultivation (region-wise) 2009

23. Hybrids suitable for rainfed/aerobic conditions Hybrids tolerant to salinity/alkalinity

24. Strategies for promoting Hybrid rice in Eastern India Policy • Providing a special fund for hybrid rice research with special focus on Eastern India • Constituting a task force to oversee the progress on hybrid rice • Creating conducive environment to boost seed production both by public and private sector • Procurement of hybrid rice produce by FCI and other agencies for PDS Contd….

25. Technical • Development of long duration hybrids for shallow low lands and coastal areas • Further enhancing the level of heterosis • Optimizing hybrid rice seed production in boro areas Extension • Conducting large number of demonstrations in farmers’ fields • Line Departments to play a key role in promoting hybrid rice • Advance seed indent system to be developed and implemented

26. Other technologies to usher into green revolution in Eastern India • Adopting Integrated Nutrient Management practices • Going for soil health cards and practicing site specific nutrient management • Use of organics/green manures should be an integral part in rice cultivation • Use of Leaf Colour Chart to improve the ‘N’ efficiency • Crop diversification (rotation and recycling of crop residues) • Judicious use of water by adopting innovative cultivation methods • Integrated pest management

27. Adoption of SRI to save water and other inputs • Plant young seedlings (8-12 days old) • Single seedling per hill with soil • Wider spacing (20 x 25 cm) • Use of more organics • Weeding by cono weeder • Bio-pesticides (IPM)

28. Aerobic rice cultivation • Cultivation of rice in un puddled, direct seeded without standing water (need based irrigation as like wheat & maize) • Combines features of high yielding irrigated lowland and drought tolerant upland cultivars.

29. Direct seeding with 8 row drum seeder Simple method to save labour

30. Integrated pest management in rice Optimum Sowing / Planting Time Pest Monitoring in Nursery/ Main field Economic thresholds RESISTANT VARIETY Cultural Practices Optimum Spacing Optimum ‘ N’ Crop sanitation Alleyways Mid season drying Natural biocontrol Avoid persistent insecticides Pheromones Need based insecticide use Ecofriendly and safe insecticides

31. Trap Crop- A cost effective environmental friendly way to control the stem borer Growing one row of Basmati variety after every 9 rows of farmers’ variety could reduce the stem borer damage to considerable extent

32. Conclusions • Faster spread of newly developed varieties and hybrids • Efficient and effective seed production mechanism to ensure the availability of quality seeds • Selective mechanization to save the rice farming from labour shortage • Enhancing profitability of rice farming by economizing the input use • Intensifying research on water saving technologies such as Aerobic rice, AWD, SRI etc • Aggressive technology transfer efforts by all the concerned

33. Thank You