Diversification of rice production is an asset for Odisha’s agriculture. Rice is the staple food in the State. Due to insufficient agricultural extension and insufficient and erratic rainfall, hurdles remain on the way for diversification of rice production.
Farmers treat the soil as their mother. There exists a gap between the scientific knowledge of the researchers and knowledge system of the people in villages which form an integral part of agriculture. It has been observed that there is a lack of awareness and understanding among the researchers, extension workers about the benefits of diversification of rice production through local knowledge. The role of women in the maintenance of rice crop diversity in fields, seed jars, and kitchen has not been acknowledged by most players in the fields of agriculture, research institutions and NGOs. The knowledge of farmers, particularly women farmers, about selection, preservation, and storing methods has not got due attention.
Efforts should be made to put diversification of rice production methods in local language in local school curriculum. The practice that enhances the diversification of rice production one way or the other contributes to lessening the impact of climate change. Technology transfer in agriculture should focus on the key interventions at different stages of the rice crop from sowing, crop protection, and harvesting and post harvest management to marketing.
Technology transfer needs to be made through effective interactive groups, like self help groups (SHG), and farmer clubs. They should become tool of dissemination of information about various Government schemes and liaise with various Governments departments for developmental activities. Gram Panchayat should become technology transfer hubs for the farmers, while IT tools like internet and mobile phones should be extensively used to impart knowledge on new developments, improved methods of cultivations and technologies. These tools can also be useful in dissemination of weather data, and agro climatic conditions and latest information on prices of agriculture produce to farmers. For this, Krishi Vigyan Kendras should be established at panchayat level.
A very high priority would be accorded to evolving new location specific and economically viable improved varieties of rice and conservation of germ plasma and biodiversity resources. The regionalization of agriculture research based on identified agro climatic zones should get high priority. Applications of frontier science and technology like biotechnology, remote sensing technologies, pre and post harvest technologies, should be encouraged.
Upgradation of agriculture extensions, women empowerment, user orientation, vocationalization and promotion of excellence should get attention. The research and extension linkages should be strengthened to improve quality and effectiveness of research and extension system.
The extension system should be broad based, revitalized, innovative and decentralized institutional changes should be introduced to make the extension system accountable to farmers.Krishi Vigyan Kendras, NGOs, farmers’ organizations, cooperatives, corporate sectors and para technicians in agriculture extensions should be encouraged for organizing demand driven production systems.
Development of human resources through capacity building and skill upgradation of public extension functionaries need to be accorded priority. Rural adaptive rice centers (Kisani Dhan Kendra) should be established in as many numbers as possible.
The rice growers in general stick to cultivate their own indigenous rice varieties. If improved seeds of their own varieties by simple selection method are offered to them, they will gladly accept them.Indigenous seeds can be distributed from the centers in small quantities and the farmers can explain how to multiply them at the local areas. Panchayats can play a vital role in this matter.
(The writer is a research fellow based in New Delhi)