ON-FARM TRIALS OF FARMER’S VARIETY: TOOL FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND ADOPTION OF VARIETY IN NEW AREAS.

In the year 2014, during Kharif season trials were conducted to determine nature of output of farmer’s rice variety under local condition and to evaluate rate of adoption among users. Rice variety “DRK” that was developed by innovative farmer Shri Dadaji Ramaji Khobragade of Maharashtra was shared among farmers. The trial was conducted at twelve different farmers’ field who had volunteered in Gandhinagar district of Gujarat state, India. The average yield of this variety was found to be 8.51 ± 0.2 t/ha with highest yield to the tune of 10 tonnes per hectare. A positive correlation was observed between the yield and yield attributing traits like number of tillers and reproductive tillers / hill, panicle length, secondary branches of panicle, number of spikelets / panicle showing their direct effect on yield. Less incidence of grain smut disease was also observed in DRK variety. Farmers during the first harvest obtained better market price for the produce. The farmers in study region started preserving seeds and nearby farmers sought for it as well. Subsequently, this information was shared and two farmer group discussions were held in the year 2015. It was found that the area under DRK rice variety increased over 80 fold spread across six districts owing to positive impact in farmers’ field. The study reinforced importance of farmers’ participation in on-farm trials to enrich and promote suitable intervention.