D. Burman

Identification of mega-environments and rice genotypes for general and specific adaptation to saline and alkaline stresses in India

In the present study, a total of 53 promising salt-tolerant genotypes were tested across 18 salt-affected diverse locations for three years. An attempt was made to identify ideal test locations and mega-environments using GGE biplot analysis. The CSSRI sodic environment was the most discriminating location in individual years as well as over the years and could be used to screen out unstable and salt-sensitive genotypes. Genotypes CSR36, CSR-2K-219, and CSR-2K-262 were found ideal across years. Overall, Genotypes CSR-2K-219, CSR-2K-262, and CSR-2K-242 were found superior and stable among all genotypes with higher mean yields. Different sets of genotypes emerged as winners in saline soils but not in sodic soils; however, Genotype CSR-2K-262 was the only genotype that was best under both saline and alkaline environments over the years. The lack of repeatable associations among locations and repeatable mega-environment groupings indicated the complexity of soil salinity. Hence, a multi-location and multi-year evaluation is indispensable for evaluating the test sites as well as identifying genotypes with consistently specific and wider adaptation to particular agro-climatic zones. The genotypes identified in the present study could be used for commercial cultivation across edaphically challenged areas for sustainable production.

Participatory evaluation guides the development and selection of farmers’ preferred rice varieties for salt- and flood-affected coastal deltas of South and Southeast Asia

Rice is the staple food and provides livelihood for smallholder farmers in the coastal delta regions of South and Southeast Asia. However, its productivity is often low because of several abiotic stresses including high soil salinity and waterlogging during the wet (monsoon) season and high soil and water salinity during the dry season. Development and dissemination of suitable rice varieties tolerant of these multiple stresses encountered in coastal zones are of prime importance for increasing and stabilizing rice productivity, however adoption of new varieties has been slow in this region. Here we implemented participatory varietal selection (PVS) processes to identify and understand smallholder farmers’ criteria for selection and adoption of new rice varieties in coastal zones. New breeding lines together with released rice varieties were evaluated in on-station and on-farm trials (researcher-managed) during the wet and dry seasons of 2008–2014 in the Indian Sundarbans region. Significant correlations between preferences of male and female farmers in most trials indicated that both groups have similar criteria for selection of rice varieties. However, farmers’ preference criteria were different from researchers’ criteria. Grain yield was important, but not the sole reason for variety selection by farmers. Several other factors also governed preferences and were strikingly different when compared across wet and dry seasons. For the wet season, farmers preferred tall (140–170 cm), long duration (160–170 d), lodging resistant and high yielding rice varieties because these traits are required in lowlands where water stagnates in the field for about four months (July to October). For the dry season, farmers’ preferences were for high yielding, salt tolerant, early maturing (115–130 d) varieties with long slender grains and good quality for better market value. Pest and disease resistance was important in both seasons but did not rank high. When farmers ranked the two most preferred varieties, the ranking order was sometimes variable between locations and years, but when the top four varieties that consistently ranked high were considered, the variability was low. This indicates that at least 3–4 of the best-performing entries should be considered in succeeding multi-location and multi-year trials, thereby increasing the chances that the most stable varieties are selected. These findings will help improve breeding programs by providing information on critical traits. Selected varieties through PVS are also more likely to be adopted by farmers and will ensure higher and more stable productivity in the salt- and flood-affected coastal deltas of South and Southeast Asia.

Homestead Production Systems in Coastal Salt-Affected Areas of Sundarbans: Status and Way Forward Strategies

Majority of the households (HH) in the study area are having some kind of homestead production systems (HPS) adjacent to their dwelling house irrespective of the operational holding size. In coastal areas of West Bengal, the operational farm holding size is very small (<0.5 ha), and that too is fragmented over few more plots, resulting further reduction of the operational holding size. The poor farming communities are poverty stricken, having very low investment capacities, and land productivity is very low due to acute shortage of irrigation water in non-monsoon months. Therefore, the HPS systems are having enormous importance for improving livelihoods and toward attaining household-level food security in this region. Homestead production systems, with an average area of 0.05 ha, are comprised of several key resources like water, fish, horticultural crops, livestock, etc. The pond and the water in the pond are the most important resources of the HPS, and a whole gamut of activities are dependent by utilizing this water. Besides aquaculture in the homestead pond, growing vegetables, fruits, trees, etc. in the dike or homestead gardens is the major activity under HPS. A number of vegetables are grown in the homestead gardens like brinjal, okra (bhindi), potato, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, yam, spinach, Colocasia, amaranthus, cucumber, bitter gourd, beet, and carrot. The area under vegetable cultivation under the HPS is only 0.013–0.027 ha. Availability of fish, vegetables, and livestock products from the HPS was quite smaller in quantity, but contributed greatly toward the daily household’s food and nutrition requirement, thus reducing the external dependence and making the farm family more self-reliant. Under the current practices, the financial analysis of the current system indicated that the system was not generating the sufficient income for long-term investment, if the contribution of family labour is imputed and added as cost, but it has multiple functions, utility, and value to the HH in coastal areas under study. The market linkage with the production system is very weak primarily due to very low marketable surplus. The utilization of these available homestead water resources is not to their potential. With scientific/improved interventions, these resources can be used more efficiently, and the productivity of the whole HPS can be enhanced significantly. The HPS resources including pond and dike area can be utilized more intensively and can be made more contributing to their livelihoods. Farmers need financial support to enhance their investment capacities as well as technical support to use their resources in a more productive way. Enhancing the production level would increase the quantity of marketable surplus and thereby increase the contribution of HPS to the regional production.

Land Shaping Methods for Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal and Island Region

Abstract In the coastal and islands of the tropical region waterlogging and soil salinity are the major concerns to the sustainability of agriculture that is already under pressure from climate change events and natural hazards. Restoring the ecosystems and degraded soils of these regions is vital to provisioning of ecosystem services for the native people and ecological functions and services of these hotspots of biodiversity. Implementing innovative land management practices such as permanent raised bed and furrow, rice-cum-fish, three tier land management, ponds with broader dykes, deep furrow and high ridge, ridges and furrow systems and brackish water aquaculture will not only address the land degradation concerns but also enable to harvest rainwater and diversification of agriculture. These land shaping methods also help to cope with the weather variations and projected climate change and favour integration of fish and livestock component with crop cultivation providing greater stability to farm income.

Challenges, Options and Strategies for Doubling Farmers’ Income in West Bengal –Reflections from Coastal Region

Despite leading in production of many important agricultural commodities, the income of agriculture dependent households remained one of the lowest ( 3980/month per households) in West Bengal and far below the national average ( 6426/month/household). The paper has analysed the past performance of agriculture sector in the states economy from the available secondary data and also has looked into effectiveness of the existing price policy. Besides, technology options, agricultural market scenario/linkage have been analysed through primary information from the most vulnerable group of farmers in the coastal region to understand how far doubling of income was achievable. However, the micro-level households’ data analysis has indicated ample opportunities to increase farmers’ income through enhancing cropping system intensification. Technology options are also available for increasing cropping intensities. The agriculture sector needs policy thrust like attracting private investment, value addition to agricultural commodities and marketing innovations. The paper has concluded that doubling of farmers’ income in West Bengal is a challenging tasks, particularly due to low agricultural growth (< 2%), lack of market innovations and private investment, but is achievable. The real concern for the farmers in the state was not only to achieve higher (double) income for farmers but also to sustain the enhanced farmers’ income which is inclusive across the farmers’ groups.