Yield Gap Analysis of Rice through Front Line Demonstrations in Tropical Andaman Islands

Abstract

The present study aimed to know the gaps for yield performance between potential and actual yield of rice through 137 Front Line Demonstrations (FLD) conducted across 3 years in the Andaman Islands. Improved rice varieties with recommended package of practices could give on an average yield of 4.72 t ha^-1 to 5.78 t ha^-1 as compared to local varieties yielding 3.21 t ha^-1 to 3.69 t ha^-1 under rainfed conditions of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The extension gap ranged between 1.22 to 1.70 t ha^-1 in improved varieties as compared to 1.55 to 2.70 t ha^-1 under hybrid varieties. The trend of technology gap ranged from 0.15 to0.30 t ha^-1 in hybrid varieties compared to 0.18– 0.35 t ha^-1 in case of pure line varieties. The technology index showed the feasibility of realising the performance of evolved technology at the farmer’s fields. The value technology index showed wide range of 3.60 to 15.80 for HYVs and 2.50 to 5.00 in hybrid varieties. The benefit cost ratio was slightly high in hybrids than pure line varieties. The yield of rice could be increased from 36% to 54% by high yielding varieties and from 37% to 86 % by rice hybrids complimented by improved seed and appropriate crop management technologies. Availability of improved seed of high yielding rice varieties and required inputs along with timely extension interventions can greatly narrow the gap between potential yield and actual yield to reap high rice productivity in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.