On-farm Evaluation of Rice-groundnut Sequence vis-a-vis Rice-rice Cropping System under Limited Irrigated Situations of Telangana, India

Abstract

Crop diversification with resource efficient and remunerative cropping systems is a sustainable agricultural practice. On farm evaluation with an improved cropping system of rice-groundnut vis-a-vis farmers’ practice of rice-rice was conducted in ten farmer’s fields of Medak district of Telangana state. Crop diversification with Rice-groundnut realized 7.3% (881 kg ha-1) higher mean rice grain equivalent yield (12969 kg ha-1) over farmer’s practice of cultivation of rice-rice (12,088 kg ha-1). Mean technology and extension gaps were 2,231 kg ha-1 and 881 kg ha-1 respectively.  Technology index ranged from 8.8 to 23.7% with an average value of 14.7%. The mean gross and net returns of improved cropping system were Rs 1,92,930 and 1,09,658 ha-1, while that of farmers practice was Rs 1,81,320 and 83,955 ha-1 respectively.  On an average a B C ratio of 2.3 was earned in improved cropping system as against the 1.9 under farmers practice. The mean additional returns in improved cropping system were Rs 13,210 ha-1 with a mean effective gain of Rs 27,303 ha-1. Improved cropping system registered a mean total productivity per day of 35.5 kg ha-1 day-1 with a mean profitability of Rs 300 day-1. Average Production Use Efficiency of improved cropping system was 56.4 kg ha-1 day-1, while that of farmer’s practice was 49.3 kg ha-1 day-1.  The edge in productive economic parameters in terms of Mean Relative Productive Use Efficiency and Relative Economic Efficiency were 7.3 and 30.6 respectively and were indicating the profitability of improved cropping system.