Improving Groundnut Productivity in Tribal Areas of ASR District through on-Farm Varietal Assessment, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Groundnut productivity in the tribal areas of Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district remains low due to the use of traditional, low-yielding varieties and limited adoption of scientific practices. The main objective of this study to evaluate the yield performance, adaptability, and economic viability of improved groundnut varieties through on-farm trials under the rainfed tribal conditions of Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district and to identify a suitable variety for enhancing groundnut productivity and farmers’ income. To address this, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kondempudi conducted 15 On-Farm Testing (OFT) trials for three consecutive early kharif seasons (2020–21 to 2022–23) across major tribal villages to evaluate the performance of improved varieties Kadiri Lepakshi (K-1812) and Nitya Haritha (TCGS-1157) against the farmers’ variety K-6. Results showed that Kadiri Lepakshi consistently recorded the highest yields across all years, with a pooled mean yield of 18.0 q/ha and a 31.5% increase over farmers’ practice, followed by Nitya Haritha with 16.4 q/ha and a 19.5% yield advantage. Gap analysis indicated lower technology gap and technology index for Kadiri Lepakshi, confirming its better adaptability under rainfed tribal conditions. Economic analysis further revealed that Kadiri Lepakshi achieved the highest pooled net returns (₹71,566/ha) and B:C ratio (2.7), followed by Nitya Haritha (2.5), while farmers’ practice recorded the lowest profitability. Overall, the study demonstrates that adopting improved varieties, particularly Kadiri Lepakshi, can significantly enhance groundnut productivity and farm income in ASR district, highlighting the importance of varietal replacement and strengthened extension support in tribal farming systems.