Status Paper on Rice in Uttarakhand - Rice,Paddy,Dhan...

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RICE IN UTTARAKHAND

Status Paper on Rice in Uttarakhand

S.C. Mani

Ex-Professor & Additional Director Research

G.B.P.U.A.&T., Pantnagar – 263 145

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RICE IN UTTARAKHAND

I. NAME OF THE STATE : Uttarakhand

II. INTRODUCTION

Created in the year 2000 this 27th

state of India, was carved out from erstwhile Uttar Pradesh.

Uttarakhand is the 10th

Himalayan state of the country. It is bound by Nepal, China, Himachal Pradesh

and Uttar Pradesh on east, northeast, west and southern directions, respectively. Out of the total

geographical area of 53,204 sq. km. merely 14 per cent is under cultivation and 62 per cent is under

forest.

Rice is the major cereal crop of kharif season accounting for more than 54 percent of the total area

under cereals in the state. The annual rice production of the state is around 5.5 lakh tonnes from an area

of about 2.80 lakh hectares. Half of this area is in the plains and half in the hills, but the total rice

production of the hills is twice the total production of the hills. Rice is cultivated in all the 13 districts of

the state, but maximum area (33%) is in district Udham Singh Nagar which produces about 48% of the

total rice produced annually in the state. Districts Nainital, Hardwar and Dehradun occupy about 17.5 per

cent area and contribute 22.2 per cent in the total production. From productivity point of view these

districts are classified in the medium category. Rest of the nine districts are classified in the low

productivity category. These nine districts together occupy about 49.2 per cent area, but contribute only

to 30 per cent of the total production. After the creation of the state some decline in rice area has been

observed due to industrialization in the plains and diversion of area for other development purposes.

III. ZONAL INFORMATION

a. Climate :

The climate varies greatly from place to place in this Himalayan state. The state

comprises of two district physiographic regions: Hill region that covers major portion and, the bhabhar

and tarai regions that run as a narrow belt in the foothills of the Himalayas. The hilly terrain ranges from

200 m to a magnificent series of snow clad peaks of more than 6000 m above mean sea level. Broadly

there are three subdivisions viz., Himadari or greater Himalayas, Himanchal or lesser or lower Himalayas

and Shivalik or sub-Himalayas. In Himadari, Himalaya rises abruptly and its higher peaks are ice-capped

throughout the year. Crops are grown upto 2000 m in this part.

In lower Himalaya (>600 to <2000 m), the crop cultivation is undertaken in river valleys and

terraced slopes only, due to stony nature of land. The sub-Himalaya is of low height (300-600 m). The

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RICE IN UTTARAKHAND

climatic zone in hill region are: warm temperate (900-1800 m), cool temperate (1800-2400 m), cold zone

(2400-3000 m), alpine zone (3000-4000 m), glacier zone (4000-4800 m) and perpetually frozen zone

(>4800 m). The bhabhar and tarai regions represent a narrow strip of flat land below the foothills of

Himalayas covering about one third of total arable land in the state. Bhabhar occupies the area just

below the foothills. Moving further down, bhabhar leads to tarai zone that covers districts of Udham

Singh Nagar, Haridwar and parts of Nainital district. In this region intensive agriculture is practiced.

b. Soil Type/ Nutrient Management

The soils in the hills have developed from rocks like granite, ferruginous biotitic, schists,

gneiss, phyllite, shales and sand stone, etc. under cool and moist climate. Soils of the hill region are

characterized by their diversity due to parent rock, elevation, slope and aspect. They are generally

shallow, gravelly, impregnated with un-weathered fragments of parent rocks, occurring as a thin layer

of a few centimeters at high elevations to about 2 meters in the valleys or depressions. They are neutral

to slightly acidic in nature at lower elevations and highly acidic at higher elevations where rainfall is

high. The hill soils belong mostly to inceptisol and alfisol orders and are prone to severe water erosion

due to steep slope and high rainfall.

The soils of bhabhar are deep, well drained, neutral or slightly alkaline, coarse loamy/ fine loamy/

sandy and with or without free lime (calcareous/ non-calcareous). At places, deep, excessively drained

soils occur. The major constraints of soils of piedment plain are the low moisture holding capacity and

limited root growth zone. The soils of tarai are very deep, well drained, slightly alkaline and coarse

loamy/ fine loamy. These soils are rich in organic matter, plant nutrients and have fairly good water

holding capacity. At places the problems of wetness, overflows and erosion are also observed. Tarai

soils are one of the most productive soils in the country.

c. Rainfall and its Distribution Pattern

Rainfall is heavy in Himalayas as well as in foot hills. The area of heaviest rainfall are in the districts

of Dehradun, Garhwal, Nainital and Pithoragarh with an average rainfall of 1800 mm. The other hills in

general receive 750-1250 mm annually. Of the total rainfall, 80-90% is concentrated in monsoon period

viz., June-August.

d. Agro-Climatic Zones

Broadly, the state can be divided into four distinct agro-climatic region:

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• Valleys (up to 1000 m above sea level) it comprises the districts of Udham Singh Nagar, Hardwar

and parts of Dehradun.

• Low hills (1000-1500 m above sea level) marked by unirrigated stretches of sub-tropical land,

including districts and areas of Pauri, Tehri, Dehradun and Nainital districts.

• High hills (1500-2500 m) marked by cool, temperate climate includes area in Uttarkashi, Nainital,

Rudraprayag, Pauri, Bageshwar, Champawat and Chamoli districts.

• Alpine zone (>2500m), the region is marked by sparse vegetation, mainly herbs and small

mountaineous plants and includes areas in Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh districts.

Physiographic zones, farming situations, soil and major crops grown in Uttarakhand

Sl.

No.

Zone Farming situations Soil Av. Rainfall

(mm/year)

1. Zone-A

(up to 1000m)

Tarai irrigated Alluvial 1400

Bhabar irrigated Alluvial 1400

Lower hills irrigated Alluvial sandy 2000-2400

Rainfed lower hiills Residual sandy loam 2000-2400

2. Zone-B

(1000-1500m) Mid hills south aspect Sandy loam 1200-1300

3. Zone-C

(1500-2400) High hills Red to dark 1200-2500

4. Zone-D

(>2400) Very high hiils Red to dark black clay 1300

e. Rice and Cultural Heritage in the State

Rice apart from being a source of food is intimately related with all the religious, cultural and

social functions of the life of hill people. It also provides feed for cattle, thereby, reducing pressure on

grazing land and forests. Thus, rice helps to balance the delicate ecosystem of Himalayas, where

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fodder scarcity is more acute. Rice is cultivated in hills of state in two distinct environments; terraces

and valleys. The promising rice establishment method in terraces is direct-seeded (dry seed and dry

soil), while valleys are transplanted (establishment of seedlings in nursery and subsequently

transplanted in well puddled fields). These variations are largely explained by poor infrastructure,

inaccessibility to modern technology, small and fragmented land holdings, use of traditional inputs

and methods: non-availability and non-suitability of seeds and fertilizers which affect hill agriculture

significantly. Application of chemical fertilizers in hills is only 8 kg per hectare, whereas the state

average is about 75 kg per hectare.

IV. RICE PRODUCTION SCENARIO

The current rice growing area (2009-10) in the state is about 2.8 lakh hectares and production is

5.7 lakh quintals. Half of this area is in the hills and half in the plains, but the total production in the

plains is almost two and half times the production in the hills. The average productivity of the state is

20.39 q/ha. There is a wide gap between the productivity of hills (12.55 q/ha) and productivity of

plains (27.55 q/ha). The highest productivity among hill districts was observed in Tehri Garhwal which

is 1.6 t/ha and lowest in Almora and Pauri Garhwal districts which is about 1 t/ha. The main reasons

for a wide difference in productivity are (i) There exists a wide variation between hills and plains for

irrigation facilities and fertilizer consumption (ii) The hill districts witness harsh climate in terms of

prevailing low temperature and moisture stress (iii) Very low or negligible use of chemical fertilizers in

the hills, particularly under rainfed upland conditions (iv) Small or marginal and scattered land

holdings and woman based agriculture (v) Non-availability of inputs, poor socio-economic condition of

the farmers and poor extension network.

The major factors contributing to high yields in the plains are high yielding varieties, irrigation

facilities and adoption of modern crop production and crop protection technologies. In the valleys where

rice yields are as high as in the plains the irrigation water plays the most crucial role.

V. REGION-WISE/ DISTRICT-WISE RICE ECOSYSTEMS

There are two distinct rice ecosystems in the state. District Udham Singh Nagar, Hardwar and

plains of Nainital and Dehradun districts grow rice under irrigated ecosystem. Rest of the nine districts

viz., Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Pauri, Tehri and hill

regions of districts Dehradun and Nainital are under rainfed upland ecosystem.

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VI. RICE PRODUCTION AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

The average costs and returns from rice cultivation in district Udham Singh Nagar is given in Table

given at XVII. The total cost of rice production in tarai is high due to very high cost of the labour, full

application of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals. Due to higher yields rice cultivation is a

profitable proposition and average returns are around Rs. 20,000 per hectare. Farmers involved in seed

production and cultivation of basmati rice make even higher profits.

The cost of cultivation of rice is Rs. 13609/ha in the valleys which is about 44% more than that on

the terrace (Rs. 8710). The material cost, which includes bullock power, FYM, seed, irrigation and

fertilizer worked out to be Rs. 4611/ha accounting for 53% to the total cost on terraces and Rs. 6552 in

valleys, accounting for 48% to total cost. Material cost is more in valleys due to use of chemical fertilizers.

FYM is the most important input followed by seed, which together account for 37 % to total cost

in terraces, while in valleys bullock power is the most important component of material cost with 17 % to

the total cost followed by FYM having 12% share. In both the situations human labour include only family

labour. Labour cost is Rs. 4099 in terraces and Rs. 7057/ha in valleys which constitute 47 and 52 %,

respectively to total cost. Weeding cost emerged out as a main component of labour cost in terraces. It is Rs.

1602 for terraces and Rs. 1043/ha for valleys, followed by harvesting cost of Rs. 919 and Rs. 1730 in terraces

and valleys, respectively. The yields of rice are 31.2 and 9.37 qtls/ha in valleys and terraces, respectively. The

yield differences were due to non-adoption of modern technologies in terraces due to irrigation problems.

Large differences are observed in gross returns from rice cultivation in two heterogeneous rice

growing environments. In valleys gross returns are about three times (Rs. 17864/ha) than that of terraces

(Rs. 6149). Adoptions of modern technologies for rice cultivation in valleys are alone sufficient to explain

the variation in gross and net returns. The net returns are negative (- Rs. 2561/ha) in terraces

and positive in valleys (+ Rs. 4255/ha).

VII. RICE AND RICE BASED CROPPING SYSTEM ZONE-WISE

Situation(s) Crop Sequences Altitude

Zone-A

Rice-wheat upto 1000 m

Rice-vegetable pea-summer rice

Basmati rice – lentil/ local scented rice - lentil

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Zone-B

(1000-1500m)

Rice-wheat-mandua-fallow (two year) 1000-1500m

Local scented rice) - wheat

Local scented rice) - lentil

Rice- mustard

Rice-wheat

Zone-C

Amaranth (Ramdana) – wheat / barley 1500-2400 m

Rajma - wheat / barley

Buckwheat – barely

Zone-D

Buckwheat – barely above 2400m

Amaranth – barley

VIII. RICE GROWING SEASONS OF DIFFERENT REGIONS

Rice is predominantly cultivated during the kharif season in the state. In hill valleys high yielding

rice varieties are popular, whereas traditional varieties are grown on the terraces which show contrasting

climatic conditions to valley situations. In terraces farming activities begin immediately after rains as they

are mainly rainfed. Valleys are irrigated by the hill canals. In both environments land preparation is totally

dependent on bullock power. Mechanization is not popular due to bio-physical conditions and small size

of plots and sloppy situations. However, rice establishment methods differ in both environments.

Terraces are entirely direct seeded (dry-seed and dry- soil), while in valleys transplanting is the most

popular rice establishment method.

During the last one and half decades summer rice has also became popular in the tarai region of

district Udham Singh Nagar from February/ March – May/ June. Short duration varieties

transplanted after vegetable pea. Availability of irrigation water in tarai is the main reason for the success

of summer rice.

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IX. RECOMMENDED PACKAGE OF PRACTICES

a. Varieties/Hybrids

i. Irrigated plains:

a) Early (110-115 days): Govind, Narendra Dhan-118, Saket-4, Narendra Dhan-97, Pant

Sankar Dhan-1.

b) Medium (120-125 days): Pant Dhan-4, Narendra Dhan-359, Pant Dhan-10, Saryu-52,

PNR-381, Pant Sankar Dhan-3, Narendra Sankar Dhan-2, Pant Dhan-18, Pant Dhan-19, PR-

113, PR-114.

c) Basmati varieties: Type-3, Kasturi, Pusa Basmati-1, Basmati-370, Taraori Basmat, Haryana

Basmati-1, Pant Sugandh Dhan-15, Pant Sugandh Dhan-17, Pusa-1121, Pusa RH-10.

ii. Hills:

1. Direct seeded upland

a. Spring (March/ April seeded) : Locally this is known as chetaki dhan. The varieties are

Majhera-3, Pant Majhera Dhan-7, VL Dhan-206, VL Dhan-207, VL Dhan-208 and VL Dhan-209.

b. June seeded: Locally known as jethi dhan. The varieties are VL Dhan-163, VL Dhan-

221, Vivek Dhan-154.

2. Irrigated

a. Lower hills: Saket-4, Prasad, Govind, Pant Dhan-11.

b. Medium hills

(i) Early maturing: VLK Dhan-39, Pant Dhan-6, VL Dhan-81, VL Dhan-85, Vivek

Dhan-82.

(ii) Medium maturing: VL Dhan-16, VL Dhan-61, VL Dhan-65, Vivek Dhan-62.

b. Management Inclusive of Mechanization

Time of Nursery Sowing and Transplanting

Sl.

No.

Field situation Time of nursery sowing Time of transplanting

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1. Valleys and lower hills up

to 900 m

Second fortnight of May to first

week of June

June end to first week

of July

2. Mid hills (900-1500 m) First fortnight of May Second fortnight of June

3. High hills (above 1500 m) Second fortnight of April First fortnight of June

4. Tarai and bhabhar

HYV’s

Second fortnight of May to first

fortnight of June depending upon

the duration of the variety

Second fortnight of June to

first fortnight of July

5. Basmati varieties 15-20 June Mid July

Recommended Fertilizers and Doses

Sl. No. Cropping situation Varietal group Area (unit) N P K

Hills

1. Rainfed upland Local and tall Hectare 40-50 kg 30 kg 20 kg

Nali 800-1000 g 600 g 400 g

2. Irrigated Semi-dwarf Hectare 120 kg 60 kg 40 kg

Nali 1.2 kg 0.6 kg 0.6 kg

Plains HYV’s Hectare 120 kg 60 kg 40 kg

Hybrids Hectare 150 kg 60 kg 60 kg

Basmati Hectare 100 kg 60 kg 40 kg

Tall/ Local

Basmati

Hectare 60 kg 30 kg 30 kg

Recommended Weedicides

Sl.

No.

Name of weedicide Quantity

Per hectare Per nali

1. Butachlor 50 EC 3.0 l 60 ml

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2. Thiobencarb 50 EC 3.0 l 60 ml

3. Anilophos 30 EC 1.65 l 33 ml

4. Protilachlor 50 EC 1.5 l 30 ml

5. Pandimithilin 30 EC (for direct seeded crop) 3.3 l 66 ml

Important Diseases and their Control

Sl.

No.

Disease Fungicide Rate of application

Per ha Per nali

1. Blast Tricyclazole 75 w.p. 600 g 12 g

2. Brown spot Mancozeb 0.25% solution

3. Sheath rot Carbendazim 1 kg 20 g

4. Sheath blight Propaconazole or

Hexaconazole

1.0 l

2.0 l

20 ml

40 ml

5. Bacterial blight Streptocyclim +

Copper oxychloride

15.0 g

500.0 g

-

-

Important Insects and their Control

Sl.

No.

Insect pest Insecticide Rate of application

Per ha per nail

1. Hopper Imidachloprid 400 ml 8 ml

2. Stem borer Cartap hydrochloride 4G or 25 kg 500 g

Fipronil 5 EC or 1.0 l 20 ml

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Cartap hydrochloride 50 w.p. 600 g 12 g

3. Hispa Chlorpyriphos 1.5 l 15 ml

4. Leaf folder Cartap hydrochloride 50 w.p. 600 g 12 g

5. Kurmula Neem cake + 7.8 q 14.16 kg

Quinolphos 25 EC

or

4.0 l 80 ml

Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 4.0 l 80 ml

X. INDIGENOUS TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE (ITKS) SPECIFIC TO THE STATE

(i) Direct seeding of rice on terraces and hill slopes in the month of March/ April making use of the

moisture conserved from winter rains and precipitation.

(ii) Technique of nursery raising during the months of December/ January for summer rice when

environmental/ soil/ water temperature is very low and unsuitable for germination of rice by

bengali farmers in Uttarakhand tarai using continuously running water of artigen wells.

XI. BYPRODUCTS/EXTENDED USE OF RICE SPECIFIC TO THE STATE

Paddy is turned into white milled/ parboiled rice and consumed as whole grain along with curry

and vegetables. There are no specific milled products. Other food products include beaten rice, puffed

rice, kheer, namkin, papad, kachari, arsa and some products of regional importance. Rice straw is burned

by the farmers in tarai after combine harvesting, but is used as cattle feed by the farmers in the hills. Rice

millers use the husk in the boilers of their own rice mills for parboiling as well as sell to other small

industries to be used as fuel in the boilers.

XII. RICE AND COMMERCE (EXPORT AND REVENUE GENERATION)

Uttarakhand state is originally hill state. Under the organic basmati export programme of UOCB

the area of basmati rice has increased from 700 ha in 2006-07 to 1829 ha in 2007-08 with an

average productivity of 20.0 q/ha for different varieties (UOCB, 2008). Exact data about rice

exports are not available. It is estimated that around 1,000-1,500 tonnes of basmati rice is exported from

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the state every year, mostly to middle east. Some basmati rice also moves in adjoining states and Delhi

markets.

XIII. SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN RICE SECTOR OF THE STATE

Sl.

No.

Components Maximum permissible assistance

1. Demonstration of improved package of

practices

Rs. 2,500 per demonstration of 0.4 ha

(Assistance limited to Rs. 2,500/- per acre for

single crop)

2. Demonstration on System of Rice

Intensification

Rs. 3,000 per demonstration of 0.4 ha

3. Demonstration on hybrid rice technology Rs. 3,000 per demonstration of 0.4 ha

4. Support for promotion of hybrid rice seed

a) Assistance for production of hybrid

seed.

Rs. 1,000 per qtl or 50% of the cost,

whichever is less

b) Assistance for distribution of

hybrid rice seed

Rs. 2,000 per qtl or 50% of the cost,

whichever is less

5. Assistance for distribution of HYVs Seed Assistance @ Rs. 5 per kg or 50% of the cost,

whichever is less

6. Seed Mini kits of high yielding varieties Full cost of the seed

7. Incentive for micro nutrients (in deficient

soils)

Assistance @ Rs. 500 per ha or 50% of the

cost, whichever is less

8. Incentive for liming in acid soils Assistance @ 500 per ha or 50% of the cost,

whichever is less

9. Assistance for plant protection chemicals

and bio-pesticides

Assistance @ Rs. 500 per ha or 50% of the

cost, whichever is less

10. Training of farmers at FFS pattern Assistance @ Rs. 17,000 per training

11. Frontline Demonstration on rice Rs. 6,250 per ha.

12. Frontline Demonstration on hybrid rice Rs. 7,500 per ha.

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Sl.

No.


13. Purchase of manually operated

implements/ tools

@ 25% of the cost limited to Rs. 2,000/-

14. Animal driven implements @ 25% of the cost limited to Rs. 2,500/-

15. Power driven equipments (Tractor/ power

tiller operated)

Intended inclusion of all tractor and power

tiller driven conventional equipment/

implements

i) @ 25% of the cost, limited to Rs.

10,000/- for essential tractor driven

implements viz., MB/ Disc plough,

harrow, cultivator, seed-cum-fertilizer

drill.

ii) @ 25% of the cost, limited to Rs.

10,000/- for a set of power tiller driven

implements i.e. harrow, cultivator and

seed drill.

16. Power Threshers (All types) 25% of the cost, limited to Rs. 12,000/-

17. Diesel/ Electric pump sets @ 50% of the cost, limited to Rs. 10,000/-

Diesel/ electric pump sets upto 7.5 BHP/

5kW.

18. Cono Weeder Assistance @ Rs. 3,000 per farmer or 50% of

the cost, whichever is less

19. Plant Protection Equipments @ 25% of the cost

20. Self propelled Reaper, paddy transplanter

and other similar self propelled machines

@ 25% of the cost limited to Rs. 40,000/-

21. Specialized power driven equipments i) @ 25% of the cost limited to Rs.

15,000/- viz., mini rice mill

ii) @ 40% of the cost limited to Rs.

20,000/- viz., rotavator

22. Promotion of green manuring @ 50% subsidy to central/ state seed

producing agency/ ICAR/ SAUs/ farmers’

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Sl.

No.


groups entrepreneurs

23. Use of bio-fertilizers, vermi-compost, green

manure etc.

@ 25% cost limited to Rs. 1,000/- per ha.

24. Promotion/ distribution of micro nutrients @ Rs. 500/ha

25. Supply of bio-agents/ bio-pesticides @ 25% of the cost limited to Rs. 500 per ha.

26. Seed treatment

a. Manual seed treating drum @ Rs. 800 or 25% subsidy whichever is less

b. Seed treating material @ 25% subsidy or Rs. 50 per hectare

whichever is less

XIV. STATUS OF RECENT RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES

SRI method of rice cultivation has been tested in the plains as well as in the hills and it has been

found promising in both the situations in comparison to the prevailing methods of rice cultivation.

However, it has not been adopted by the farmers due to small and scattered holdings in the hills and high

cost of labour in the plains. Hill farmers have been practicing conservation agriculture as a default due to

the problems on supply and demand sides of technology which deals with monitory aspects i.e. local

availability of monitory inputs like certified seeds, fertilizers and other chemicals and rice farming being

women driven and dependent on rainfall and other climatic factors. The adoption of hybrid rice

technology is also very poor because hill agriculture is dependent on rainfall and natural resources of

irrigation. The tarai farmers are making good profit from seed production of inbred varieties for various

seed companies including Uttarakhand Seeds and Tarai Development Corporation. The biotechnological

interventions are nil as no specific technology has been released so far in the state. Few farmers have

adopted IPM in basmati rice production. The main interventions include green manuring of Sesbania and

use of pheromone traps to control stem borer alongwith the use of chemical weedicides and need-based

application of fungicides/insecticides. INM is not being followed seriously. University has done lot of

research and extension work on Site Specific Nutrient Management in rice and several farmers in tarai

region are following this technology in rice production using leaf colour chart developed by IRRI.

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XV. ORGANIZATIONS (GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT)

The state of Uttarakhand has two very old agricultural institutes namely, Vivekanand Parvatiya

Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (VPKAS), Almora establihsed in the 1924 and Govind Ballabh Pant University

of Agriculture & Technology (GBPUA&T), Pantnagar, established in the year 1960, committed to the

agricultural research and extension. The mandate of VPKAS, Almora is to cater the needs of the NW

Himalayan region including the hills of Uttarakhand state where as GBPUA&T is committed to the

education, research and extension of agricultural knowledge and technologies in the state of

Uttarakhand. The Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Uttarakhand is mainly responsible for the

implementation of all the development and extension activities including supply of critical inputs to the

farmers.

XVI CONSTRAINTS IN RICE PRODUCTION

a. Biotic Stresses

Diseases

In hilly areas, the rice crop suffers maximum loss due to the attack of leaf and neck blast disease

caused by Magnaporthe grisea (Pyricularia grisea). The rice blast can be seen throughout the rice season,

both as foliar as well as nodal and neck infection which acts as one of the principal constraints for rice

production in hills. Minimum temperature around 22-250

C (with a range of 10-150 C between minimum

and maximum temperature), longer crop duration with 90% or higher relative humidity (with an average

of more than 50%), and more number of cloudy days have been identified as congenial factors for blast

development.

Brown leaf spot caused by Helminthosporium oryzae is another common disease which appears

in severe form under low management conditions. Leaf scald (Rhyncosporium oryzae), sheath rot

(Sarocladium oryzae), sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani), false smut (Ustilaginoidea virens) and grain

discoloration (caused by fungi like Helminthosporium oryzae, Epicoccum sp., Curvularia lunata, etc.) are

the other diseases of prime importance. Besides, seedling blight, narrow brown leaf spot, stem rot, stack

burn and bakanae are the diseases of minor importance. Khaira disease caused by zinc deficiency has

also been noticed as a major constraint in certain pockets.

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i. Insects

Insect pests are a serious threat to the rice crop by attacking every part of the plant at all the

growth stages. Over 40 different species have been recorded in rice fields. Among these, the most severe

damage is caused by pink stem borer (Sesamia inferens) and yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas)

which remain active throughout the crop growth period but infestation peaks mostly in September. Leaf

folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) is another important pest and its maximum intensity occurs from mid-

August to September. White backed plant hopper (Sogatella furcifera), sucking bug (Dolycoris indicus),

grasshoppers and crickets are the other important pests of rice in the hills.

Besides, white grub locally known as ‘kurmula’ has become menace particularly for rainfed rice.

Out of 35 species of white grub, Anomala dimidiata, Holotrichia seticollis and H. longipennis are the

predominant species in this region.

ii. Weeds

Heavy weed infestation ranks only second to moisture stress in reducing grain yield of rainfed

rice in the hills. Estimates of yield losses caused by weeds in upland rice vary from 42 to 100 per cent as

revealed by various studies. Drastic yield losses (83.7 to 100%) have been recorded in spring rice owing

to prolonged growing season and depending upon the intensity and type of weed flora. Oxalis latifolia

(tuber propagated) and Cyprus rotundus (sedge, tuber propagated) are the most problematic species of

weeds among the 40 species recorded. Echinochloa colona, Elusine indica, Brachiara ramosa, Digitaria

songuinalis are a few other species found in abundance in rice fields.

b. Physiological or Abiotic Stresses

i. Temperature

Low temperature affects the crops at different growth stages from germination to maturity. The

monthly mean temperature in this region varies from 10.20 to 24

0 C (annual mean 18

0 C). Low

temperature stress due to cool irrigation water and low ambient temperature at reproductive phase in

irrigated rice and early vegetative phase in spring rice, adversely affect the crop productivity. The

common types of cold injuries are low germination, slow growth of seedlings, leaf discoloration,

stunted vegetative growth, delayed heading, incomplete panicle exsertion, prolonged flowering period,

delayed maturity and high spikelet sterility.

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ii. Scarcity of water

The area under irrigated rice in hill districts of Uttarakhand varies from 1.5 per cent in Chamoli to

about 8.2 per cent in Dehradun. Thus, 90 per cent of rice cultivation is dependent on rainfall. Although

the region receives good rainfall (1100 to 2370 mm annually), its erratic nature and high run off losses

due to sloping fields, make one or the other crop growth stage starve for water. Thus, rice crop suffers

adversely from varied levels of drought resulting into lower rice productivity.

Major Stresses in the Plains

a. Biotic stresses

i. Diseases

Bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae is the most serious and widespread

disease of rice in the plains of Uttarakhand. The cultivation of nitrogen responsive high yielding varieties

that are susceptible to the diseases, has increased the incidence of this disease in several areas.

Depending on various epidemiological and predisposing factors, the losses due to bacterial leaf blight in

grain yield may vary from 6 to 74%. The disease is favoured by a combination of weather conditions,

namely, maximum temperature ranging between 30 and 350

C, minimum temperature ranging between

24 and 260 C, maximum relative humidity with uniform high minimum humidity (64-84%) and heavy,

well distributed rainfall associated with short sunny days.

Blast of rice caused by Pyricularia grisea, is one of the most important diseases of rice in

the hills but its incidence on a large scale has also been observed in some pockets of the plains. Brown

spot caused by Bipolaris oryzae is widespread and occurs in most of the rice growing areas of

Uttarakhand. However, the direct seeded rainfed rice grown in the hills is more severely affected by this

disease than the irrigated rice.

The introduction of new high yielding varieties and new technologies of crop production has possibly

upset biological equilibrium, thereby disturbing the set pattern of occurrence of diseases and, in this

process, introduced new dimensions to lesser known diseases. Sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia

solani, hitherto regarded a minor disease, has assumed the status of a major disease in the rice growing

tracts of Uttarakhand. Another disease which has recently assumed importance is sheath rot caused by

Sarocladium oryzae. False smut of rice caused by Ustilaginoidea virens is quite prevalent in certain areas

specially in the hilly tracts of Shivalik range. Some other diseases of minor importance in the state are

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bacterial leaf streak caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, bacterial stripe caused by

Pseudomonas syringae pv. panici, crown rot caused by Marasmiellus inoderma, leaf smut caused by

Etyloma oryzae and grain discoloration caused by several fungi.

ii. Insects

Insect pests are a major threat to the rice crop in the tarai region of Uttarakhand. The warm and

humid climatic conditions prevailing in most parts of the region at various stages of crop growth

increase the population of several insects to such an extent that they attain the pest status in early

stages of the crop which persists till maturity. Regular surveys and observations conducted during the

crop season have revealed that the brown plant hopper (Nilaparvata lugens), yellow stem borer

(Scirpophaga incertulas), white backed plant hopper (Sogatella furcifera) and leaf folder

(Cnaphalocrosis medinalis) are the major insect pests of rice in the plains.

iii. Weeds

In tarai, weeds grow vigorously and thus compete strongly with rice for resources. The crop-

weed competition varies with the type of rice culture (upland or lowland, puddled or unpuddled),

variety (tall or semi-dwarf), and cultural practices (land preparation, time and method of planting,

planting density, fertilizer application, water management, etc.). The widespread replacement of tall

traditional varieties with semi-dwarf has increased the problem of weeds in rice.

Weeds in lowlands of tarai include annual grasses (Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa cruss-galli,

Echinochloa glabrescens, Ischaemum rugosum, Paspalum distichum), annual sedges (Cyperus difformis,

Cyperus iria, Fimbristylis miliacea) and annual broad leaf weeds (Commelina benghalensis, Eclipta elba,

Caesulia axillaris). Rice yields are reduced by about 30-40% under transplanted conditions and by about

50-60% under direct seeded conditions depending upon the degree of weed infestation.

Physiological or Abiotic Stresses

Tarai soils are young and much of them were uncultivated till the last 40-50 years when the large

forest tract was brought under rice cultivation. The problem of khaira disease of rice started with the

beginning of the rice cultivation in this region and it has been a serious problem for tarai farmers since

beginning.

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c. Institutional Constraints

The climatic situations in Uttarakhand hills are very variable. Though G.B.P.U.A.&T., Pantnagar

and VPKAS, Almora have their own sites of testing and validation of new technologies, the available

locations are not sufficient looking to the needs of the hills.

d. Socio-Economic Constraints

The socio-economic condition of the farmers in the hills is not good. Women play a major role in

decision making. Poor infrastructure, small and scattered holdings, poor purchasing capacity and poor

extension network all come in the way of adoption of new technologies.

XVII. ECONOMIC OF RICE PRODUCTION IN THE STATE

Costs and returns of rice cultivation in US Nagar 2009 (Rs/ha)

Inputs Rupees Percentage

Material cost

Seed 350 2

Land preparation 3750 17

Fertilizer: 3400 15

Urea 1575 7

NPK (12:32:16) 1075 5

Biozyme 325 1

Zinc 425 2

Pesticide 2250 10

Herbicide 375 2

Irrigation 250 1

Sub-total 13775 62

Labour Inputs

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Inputs Rupees Percentage

Transplanting 2700 12

Weeding 2500 11

Irrigation 1100 5

Harvesting &Threshing 1850 8

Others 150 1

Sub-total 8350 38

Total cost 22075 100

Yield (qtl) 46

Gross return 41400

Returns 19325

B:C Ratio 2.14

XVIII STRATEGIES AND MODERN TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE RICE PRODUCTION

• Development of site specific varieties as per needs of farmers and consumers.

• Development of early and medium duration hybrids for tarai and bhabhar.

• Development of early maturing drought and cold tolerant varieties for the hills.

• Refinement of production and protection technologies.

• Strengthening of extension network.

• Quality seed production and increasing seed replacement rate.

• Conservation and proper utilization of natural resources particularly water.

• Regular training of the farmers about new technologies and its advantages.

• Involvement of men fork in rice farming in the hills.

• Credit facilities for the purchase of inputs in the hills.

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• Supply of new seeds and other chemicals in small packs as per need of the poor and marginal

farmers in the hills.

XIX. STATUS OF SEED PRODUCTION - DEMAND AND SUPPLY

Sl.

No.

Variety Demand of certified seed

in kharif 2010 (q)

Availability of seed

(q)

Plains

1. Pant Dhan 4 2100 2100

2. Pant Dhan 12 4000 4000

3. Narendra 359 5400 5400

4. PR 113 4000 4000

5. PR 114 1200 1200

6. Type 3 100 100

7. IMPROVED Pusa Basmati-1 800 600

8. Basmati 370 100 000

9. Pusa 1121 800 800

10. PRH 10 500 000

Hills

11. VL 207/ 209 1000 60

12. VL 154/ 221 1000 100

13. VL 85/ 86 1200 600

14. VL 82 1500 150

15. Pant Dhan 11 2000 2000

16. Pant Dhan 6 1000 000

17. Govind 500 200

Source: Directorate of Agriculture, Uttarakhand

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XX. MODERN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS USED IN RICE PRODUCTION

Rice cultivation in the hills and bhabhar is traditional using desi plough and locally made

implements due to shallow and gravelly soils and very small undulated holdings. In tarai, rice farming is

mechanized to a great extent where farmers make use of the tractors, ploughs and puddlers for field

preparation, tractor driven/manually operated plant protection equipments and combines for harvesting

and threshing. Farmers have also realized the need of rotavator for field levelling and cono-weeder for

weeding. Good rice transplanters are not available which is needed by all the big farmers of tarai.

XXI. CONCLUSION AND WAY FORWARD

Rice is the main crop of kharif season in this state and it will continue to remain the first choice

among the existing crops of the season in the plains because no other crop can tolerate high rainfall and

water logging and in the hills because no other crop can alleviate the hunger problems of the hill people

and provide fodder for the animals. The rice yields in the plains are as high as in the neighbouring

agriculturally advanced states of the Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh. Even though there still

exists a wide gap between the potential yields and actual farm yields, the adoption of modern

technologies is very high in the plains.

In the hills the main reasons for a wide gap between potential yield and actual farm yields relate

to the problems of irrigation, poor adoption of technologies and socio-economic factors. The government

and extension agencies have to play a pro-active role in the development, spread and adoption of

technologies. On the research front specific technologies have to be developed for a wide range of

situations characterized by local agro-climatic and socio-economic factors. Conservation agriculture

practiced by many hill farmers has to be given proper attention.

XXII. FUTURE THRUST IN RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES

The rice area in this state is very small (currently about 2.8 lakh ha) and every year some area is

being diverted to the industries and related housing colonies, so the main thrust on increasing rice

productivity in future has to be on increasing per unit productivity. Hybrid rice and genetically resistant

varieties to biotic stresses can help in filling the existing gap between potential and actual farm yields in

the plains. Basmati rice cultivation has to be brought under the umbrella of organic farming to reduce the

cost of cultivation and increase the profitability. Mechanization of rice farming in the plains is another

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area of thrust as labour cost component in rice farming is very high. Only mechanization can reduce this.

Site specific nutrient management has to be popularized.

In the hills increasing rice productivity is a difficult task. Bringing more are under irrigation

through watershed management and aerobic farming have to be given main thrust. The cropping system

needs a big change by developing new varieties which could be sown in the month of June (jethi dhan)

rather than in March/ April (chetaki dhan) where germination and early growth are adversely affected by

moisture and cold stresses. After rains weeds become a big problem for the farmers. Timely supply of

critical inputs like certified seed, fertilizer and plant protection chemicals at subsidized rates and in small

packs have to be given important consideration. Location specific technology need to be developed

taking into consideration the farmers socio-economic and other factors of regional/ local importance.

FFS’s have to be result oriented and farmer friendly.

Table 1. Rice Area, Production and Productivity in Uttarakhand

Year Area (ha) Production (q) Productivity

Hills Plains Total Hills Plains total Hills Plains total

2000-01 159323 153333 312656 202084 419387 621471 12.68 27.35 19.88

2001-02 144033 139218 283251 182390 388231 570621 12.66 27.46 20.14

2002-03 139138 124661 263799 155920 324410 480329 11.20 26.02 18.21

2003-04 147270 135043 282313 190544 340268 530812 12.94 25.20 18.80

2004-05 161356 137732 299088 196081 353966 550047 12.15 25.70 18.39

2005-06 144238 148859 293097 182637 381291 563928 12.66 25.61 19.24

2006-07 148147 125188 27335 196437 336290 532727 13.26 26.86 19.49

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2007-08 147419 128193 275608 199796 349782 549578 13.55 27.29 19.94

2008-09 142374 13873 281147 189647 346188 535835 13.32 24.95 19.06

2009-10 132496 145388 277884 166232 400509 566741 12.55 27.55 20.39

Growing situation Name of variety Average

yield (q/ha)

Maturity

(days)

I. Direct seed – rainfed

a. Spring (March/ April seeded)

Chetki Dhan Majhera 3 18-20 160-165

Pant Majhera Dhan 7 21-23 165-170

VL Dhan 206 20-22 160-165

VL Dhan 207 18-20 160-165

VL Dhan 208 18-20 160-165

VL Dhan 209 18-22 160-165

b. June seeded

Jhethi Dhan VL Dhan 163 22-25 110-115

VL Dhan 221 22-25 113-118

Vivek Dhan 154 20-25 100-110

II. Irrigated

a. Lower Hills Saket 4 45-50 115-120

Prasad 50-55 120-125

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Type for category Name of variety Average yield

(q/ha)

Maturity (days)

Normal/ Inbred Govind 40-45 105-110

Pant Dhan 4 55-60 125-130

Pant Dhan 10 50-60 120-130

Pant Dhan 12 55-60 115-122

Narendra 80 40-45 113-115

Narendra 80 40-45 113-115

Narendra 97 40-45 100-105

Govind 40-45 110-115

Pant Dhan 11 42-48 118-125

b. Medium Hills

i. Early maturing VLK Dhan 39 40-42 115-120

Pant Dhan 6 40-42 117-122

VL Dhan 81 40-42 120-122

VL Dhan 85 45-50 112-120

Vivek Dhan 82 42-45 120-125

ii. Medium maturing VL Dhan 16 45-50 125-130

VL Dhan 61 50-55 130-135

Vivek Dhan 62 45-50 125-130

VL Dhan 65 50-55 130-135

c. Higher Hills VL Dhan 86 50-51 112-120

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Sarju 52 55-60 130-135

NDR 359 55-60 130-135

Pant Dhan 18 62-65 130-135

Pant Dhan 19 65-70 125-130

PR 113 50-55 125-130

PR 114 55-60 140-145

Hybrid Pant Sankar Dhan 1 65-70 115-120

Pant Sankar Dhan 3 65-70 125-130

Narendra Sankar Dhan 2 65-70 125-130

Pusa RH 10 45-50 115-120

KRH 2 70-75 125-130

DRRH 2 55-60 115-116

Arize 6444 70-75 130-135

Basmati Type 3 30-35 135-140

Basmati 370 25-30 135-140

Pusa Basmati-1 40-45 140-145

Kashuri 30-35 125-130

Pusa 1121 35-40 135-140

Taraori Basmati 20-25 150-160

Pant Sugandha Dhan 15 35-40 135-140

Pant Sugandha Dhan 17 40-45 130-135

Table 3: Local germplasm having special features

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Sl.

No.

Germplasm Special features

1. Dehradun Basmati Fine quality, most ancient basmati rice, probably the mother

of all basmati rices developed later

2. Tapovan Basmati Red husked basmati variety having excellent cooking

qualities and aroma.

3. Hansraj Basmati variety with least breadth-wise swelling on cooking

4. Tilakchandan Medium grained aromatic variety with high kernel

elongation

5. Bindli Medium bold grains, strong aroma and high elongation in

cooking

6. Thapachi Drought tolerance

7. Jolia Drought tolerance

8. Bamni Drought tolerance

9. China 4 Earliness and cold tolerance

10. Kashmiri Earliness and cold tolerance

11. Kaladhan Earliness

12. Nabba Dhan Earliness

13. Dudhia Quality

14. Katuri Quality

15. Naaj Quality

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AREA UNDER HIGH YIELDING VARITIES

Exact data on the area under high yielding varieties is not available. Almost entire rice area in

District Udham Singh Nagar is irrigated and under high yielding varieties ,it is less than 20 percent in hill

districts which are rainfed. Farmers on Hardwar District grow several types of aromatic varietties

including the basmati types ,the area under high yielding varieties is around 50-60 percent . High yielding

varieties are popular in the plains of Nainital and Dehradun districts ,but only locals are grown in the hills.

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CONTRIBUTORS

1. Dr. S.C. Mani

Ex-Professor & Additional Director Research


2. Dr. P.K. Agrawal

Head, Crop Improvement Division

VPKAS, Almora – 263 601

3. Dr. D.K. Singh

Senior Research Officer

Department of Agronomy


Status Paper on Rice in Uttarakhand - Rice,Paddy,Dhan...

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