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Paddy Cultivation Advisory: Amid COVID 19

Impact of COVID-19 on paddy cultivation Paddy is the second highest produced grain in the world after maize. Grown as an annual crop, it can survive as perennial in tropical areas. Being labour intensive and water demanding plant, it is well suited for regions having cheap labour and high rainfall.

Hitul Awasthi

Impact of COVID-19 on paddy cultivation

Paddy is the second highest produced grain in the world after maize. Grown as an annual crop, it can survive as perennial in tropical areas. Being labour intensive and water demanding plant, it is well suited for regions having cheap labour and high rainfall.  

Decrease in per capita income amid slowed economy will shift food habits from more expensive items like meat, milk, vegetables and fruits to more affordable food like paddy. Paddy is one of the major food crops in India. The lockdown has created labour shortage and problem of migration within nation, which will further slow down transplanting, weeding and other inter-cultural operations in fields. To manage high rice demand and future economic shocks, there is a need to revitalize paddy cultivation in the present season.   

Regions of paddy cultivation in India  

Broadly, there are five rice growing regions in India: North-Eastern Region; Eastern Region; Northern Region (single crop of paddy is taken from May-July to September-December); Western Region (single crop of rice taken from July-August to October-December); Southern Region. Widespread cultivation and great demand for paddy has necessitated different management practices for rice. Four different rice agro ecosystems in India are: irrigated, rain fed upland, rain fed lowland and flood prone ecosystem.  

With total production of around 116 million tonnes during 2019-20, West Bengal contributes around 16% of total production, followed by Uttar Pradesh (15.51%) and Punjab (12.82%).

Agro advisory May, 2020 for Rice growing areas –

Initiate proper management practices for management of neck blast disease in rabi paddy in southern India. Apply Azoxystrobin 25SC @ 200ml/acre or Carbendazim 50 WP @ 400g/200 l of water/acre or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 5ml/l 

Places where Brown Plant Hopper (BPH)/hill exceeds 10, spray Triflumezopyrin 10SC @ 94ml/acre, or Pymetrozine 50WP @ 120g/acre, or Clothianidin 50 WDG @ 9.6g/acre, or Dinotefuran 20SG @ 60g/acre, or Flonicamid 50 WG @ 60g/acre. 

For Gundhi bug, when population exceeds 2 bugs/ hill or 5 bugs/m2apply Malathion 5% @ 10kg/acre, or Chlorpyrifos 20EC @ 1 l/acre using 200 liters of water. 

For ear cutting caterpillar in matured crop, apply Quinalphos 25EC @ 400ml/acre, or Chlorpyrifos 20 EC @ 500ml/acre. 

Summer ploughing should be done in direct seeded lowland areas. Land preparation for transplanted rice may be initiated and completed for raising dry nursery. 

Procure and sow Dhaincha seeds @ 12kg/acre in transplanted rice areas, where paddy is to be transplanted in first forthnight of July 

Amid cyclone ‘Amphan’, allow field drainage and complete harvesting in paddy fields. Dry grains to 14% safe moisture level for storage. For protection from storage insect pests, fumigate with aluminium phosphide tablets @ 3 tablets/ton of grains in air tight conditions for 7-10 days. 

Hybrid Rice and major players in paddy seed industry 

On-farm income decides the economic status of farmer households. Many experts are of the view that use of hybrid rice can boost rural incomes, stimulate private investment and improve rice yields. 65-70 % less seeds of hybrids are required, than that of HYVs. Average spikelets per panicle produced in hybrids are generally more than that of HYVs, as hybrids accumulate more dry matter during vegetative phase. Hybrid vigour/ heterosis is the increase in performance/ yield of cultivated plant that results due to hybridization. Its performance decline after first generation seed (F1), thus compel farmers to buy new seeds in next season. Some of the industrial giants that can aid in paddy cultivation by providing quality seeds are: 

Savannah Seeds Private Limited 

S.No. 

Products: Seeds 

Qualities 

1. 

Sava smart rice 127 

Early maturity, Lodging tolerant, non chaffy panicles and better milling percentage 

2. 

Sava smart rice 134 

3. 

Sava smart rice 200 

4. 

Sava smart rice 300 

5. 

SH 4613 

Medium maturity, BLB tolerant, controlled lowland 

6. 

S 222 

Medium maturity, long bold grain and high test weight 

7. 

Shrestha Gold 

Medium maturity and lodging tolerance 

8. 

Vijetha 100 

Early maturity, tolerance for blast 

9. 

GK – Chetak 

Early maturity, high milling yields 

10. 

Marshal Plus 

Medium maturity, good grain quality 

11. 

Marshal 135 

Medium maturity, more tillers and high seed weight 

12. 

GK 5003 (Rambha) 

Mid-early maturity, tolerance for BLB 

13.  

Durga 

Mid-early maturity, more grain per panicle, tolerance to BLB 

 

Advanta Seeds Global 

Advanta is one of the top 5 Hybrid rice companies in India 

S.No. 

Products: Seeds 

Qualities 

1. 

PAC 807+ 

Early maturing rainfed, fortified with Blast, suitable for terrace cultivation, rainfed condition 

2. 

PAC 8130 

3. 

PAC 801 

Medium maturity rainfed, better grain yielder 

4. 

ADV 801+ 

5. 

PAC 8744+ 

Medium maturity irrigated, fortified for BLB, high yielding 

6. 

PAC 837 

7. 

Swarna 2 

High yielding, fine grain 

 

Rasi Seeds (P) Ltd. 

S.No. 

Products: Seeds 

Qualities 

1. 

RHR – 333 

Medium maturity 

2. 

RRX -113 

Mid-early maturity 

3. 

RHR – 111 

Mid-early maturity 

4. 

Poonam 

Extra early, medium slender grain 

5. 

Pavitra 

Mid early, long panicles 

6. 

Laxmi 

Mid early, medium slender grain type 

7. 

Poonam Gold 

Extra early, medium slender grain type 

 

Nuziveedu Seeds Private Limited 

S.No. 

Products: Seeds 

Qualities 

1. 

NPH 2003 Deva 

Kharif, suited for irrigated areas of U.P., M.P., Jharkhand, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh. 

2. 

Champion NPH 207 

Kharif, suited for irrigated and rain fed upland areas 

3. 

Winner NPH 567 

Kharif, irrigated areas 

4. 

Raja NPH 369 

Kharif, irrigated areas 

5. 

Pavan NPH 909 

Kharif, rainfed upland areas of U.P., Chattishgarh, M.P., Jharkhand. Also suitable for saline areas. 

6. 

Karishma NPH 8899 

Semi-dwarf, suited for U.P., Bihar, M.P., Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, A.P., Orissa, Maharashtra, T.N. 

7. 

NPH 910 Badshah 

Kharif, irrigated areas of U.P., Jharkhand, Bihar, Chattisgarh 

8.  

NPH 924- Hima  

Boro, sited for West Bengal and Assam 

9. 

Vijay PNPH 24 

Kharif/ Rabi in irrigated areas of Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha 

10.  

NPH 2006 Kohinoor 

Basmati growing areas. Suited for Punjab, Haryana and U.P. 

11. 

SBH 999 Subeej Sugandh  

Kharif, suited for Basmati growing areas of Haryana and U.P. 

 

 

J.K. Agri Genetics Limited 

S.No. 

Products: Seeds 

Qualities 

1. 

JKRH -401 

Excellent Grain Yielder in Medium duration segment 

2. 

JKRH -1220 

Excellent grain yielder in long slender aromatic segment 

3. 

JKRH 20-20 

Best yielder in coarse grain segment 

4. 

JKRH -3333 

Excellent grain yielder in medium slender segment 

5. 

JKRH -2066 

Best suitable for Boro Season 

6. 

JK Dhanyarekha 

Early and better yielder than BPT5204  variety 

7. 

JK Swarnarekha 

Suitable for sub-mergence areas 

8.  

JKRH 2062 

Suitable for all early maturing rice growing areas 

9. 

JKRH -2067 

Suitable for all seasons and crop rotations 

10. 

JKRH -2005 

Best Suitable for lowland irrigated areas of North-Eastern plain zones. 

 

Krishidhan Seeds Private Limited 

S.No. 

Products: Seeds 

Qualities 

1. 

Komal 101 

Semi-dwarf, high tillering 

2. 

Silky 277 

Medium bold grain 

3. 

Prasanna 

Semi dwarf 

4. 

Bumpy Gold 

Long slender grains and 14-15 tillers 

5. 

Anupam 

Early maturity, 14-15 tillers 

6. 

HY Rize -360 

Aromatic, long fine grain 

7. 

Gaurav 

Semi dwarf, long slender and non – aromatic grains 

8.  

Mohar 2164 

Very Early, dwarf  

10. 

Bhavana 

Medium dwarf, short slender grain 

11 

Sativa 360 

Medium duration 

12. 

Rasika 27 

Medium duration 

13. 

Padma 07 

Medium duration, long bold grain 

14. 

Vision 199 

Late maturing, medium tall 

15. 

Mathura 1010 

Early maturing, 12-14 tillers 

16. 

Chandan 21 

Medium maturity, long slender, aromatic grains 

17. 

KSL 810 

Medium tall, with long, slender, aromatic grains 

18. 

Prem 9999 

Long slender aromatic grains. 

 

Mahyco Private Ltd 

S.No. 

Products: Seeds 

Qualities 

1. 

Shahi Daawat 

Early maturing, long slender aromatic grain 

2. 

Paddy Maheen 

16g test weight, medium maturity 

3. 

Rejoice 

Medium slender grain. With excellent eating quality 

4. 

Paddy MRP 5635 

Long panicle, early maturing 

5. 

Suruchi 

Mid early maturing, long bold grain 

6. 

Dhananjay 

Medium maturity and good cooking quality 

7. 

Dhandev 

Medium maturity, medium slender grain 

8.  

Raftaar 

Early maturing, long slender grain 

9. 

Upaj 

Mid-early maturing. Light scented 

10. 

Paddy MRP 5477 

Medium maturity, long panicles and awnless 

11. 

Suruchi MRP 5632 

Long slender grain, mild aroma 

12. 

Suruchi MRP 5407 

Long bold grain, awnless, mild aroma 

Recommended rice varieties by National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack:  

Rice Agro ecosystem and types 

Varieties 

Intermediate deep water areas 

Varshadhan, Durga, CR Dhan 501, Gayatri and Sarala 

For deep water areas 

CR Dhan 500, CR Jalamani, Jayantidhan, CR Dhan 505, and Prasanta 

Upland direct seeded 

Satyabhama, Ankit, Sahbhagidhan, Phalguni, and Vandana 

Shallow lowland transplanted rice 

Maudamani, CR Dhan 303, CR Dhan304, MTU 1001, MTU 1010, Naveen, Improved Lalat, Hue, Swarna, Pooja, CR Dhan 800 

Coastal saline 

Luna Sankhi, Luna Suvarn, Lunishree 

Hybrids for irrigated medium and shallow lowland 

Ajay, Rajalaxmi, CR Dhan 701, KRH-2 and PHB 71. 

Aromatic  

Geetanjali. CR Sugandh Dhan 907, CR Sugandh Dhan 908, CR Sugandh Dhan 910  

 

Contribution of All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project (AICRIP), in paddy cultivation

Research centres under SAU 

Varieties 

Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC), Khudwani 

Shalimar Rice-1, Shalimar Rice-2, Shalimar Rice- 3, K-39, K-78, Jhelum, Chenab, K-332 

Rice and Wheat Research Centre, Malan 

Bhrigu Dhan, Varun Dhan, Palam Lal Dhan 1, Palam Basmati 1, ARIZE 6129 

Regional Rice Research Station, Punjab 

PR 113, PR 120, PR 121, PR 122, PR 123, Punjab Mehak 1, Punjab Basmati 3, Pusa Punjab Basmati 1509 

AICRIP, Uttarakhand 

Pant Dhan 12, Pant Sankar Dhan 1, Pant Dhan 16, Pant Sugandh Dhan 15, Pant Sankar Dhan 3, Pant Sugandh Dhan 17, Pant Dhan 18, Pant Dhan 19, Pant Sugandh Dhan 21 

Rice Research Station, Haryana 

HKR 126, HKR 127, HKR 128, HKR 47, IR 64, HKR 48, Haryana Basmati -1, Haryana Basmati -2, Haryana Shankar Dhan -1 

Agricultural Research Station, Kota 

Pratap Sugandh -1, Chambal, BK -190, BK-79 

Zonal Research Station, Nagina 

First scented rice, T-3 (Dehraduni Basmati). NRH -1, T-21, T-88, T-100, N-22, N-12, N-27, N-10B 

C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, U.P. 

Ashwini and Usar -1 

Banaras Hindu University, U.P. 

Malviya Dhan -1,Malviya Dhan -2, Malviya Sugandh 4-3,Malviya Basmati Dhan 10-9 

Crop research station, Ghagraghat, U.P. 

Deep water: NDGR 489, NDGR 530, NDGR 542; Semi deep water: NDGR 1501, NDGR 1512, NDGR 1514; Flash flood: NDGR 127, NDGR 63, NDGR 65 

Crop Research Station, Faizabad 

Narendra -97, Barani Deep, Shushk Samrat, NDR 2026. NDR 2064, NDR 2065, Shivraj,  Prakhar, Narendra Sona, Narendra Laher, NDR 8002, Jal Lahri, Narendra Shankar Dhan -2, Lalmati, NDR 6093, NDR 6244, Narender Parag 

Agricultural Research Institute, Patna 

Sabour Surbhit, Rajendra Bhagwati, Sabour Deep, Sabour Ardhjal, Sabour Shree 

JNKVV, Madhya Pradesh 

JRH -4, JRH -5, JRH -8 

Rice Research Station, Bankura 

Puspa, Dhiren, Sampriti, Dhruba 

Rice Research Station, Chinsurah 

Ajit, Rajdeep, Gosaba 5 

Andhra Pradesh Rice Research Institute and Regional Agricultural Research Station, A.P. 

Swarna, Cottondora Sannalu, Vijetha, Indra, Pushyami, Amara 

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