Elite early duration rice varieties for cultivation under rainfed upland organic conditions of Uttarakhand hills

Abstract

Early duration varieties of rice under rainfed upland condition of Uttarakhand hills have great potential due to its own advantages over long duration rice varieties being used by the farmers in most of the rainfed upland hill rice growing areas. Short duration varieties of rice have many advantages over long duration viz., suitably fit in annual cropping system of the hill farmers (enhance cropping intensity 150% to 200%), escape drought, fit for contingency planning etc. and have significant impact on rainfed upland rice production and productivity in the state. Use of improved rice varieties by the small and marginal hill farmers is an important avenue for reducing hunger, food insecurity and it also brings out significant improvement in socio-economic status of farmers of hill region of the State.