Promoting Paddy: An Impact Assessment for India

A study was undertaken to assess the impact of different rice varieties and packages of practice developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and India’s State Agricultural Universities. This NCAER study first examines the variation in rice production in India across seasons, areas and ecosystems. It then examines the role played by public institutions such as ICAR, the National Rice Research Institute (formerly the Central Rice Research Institute), and the Directorate of Rice Research in enhancing paddy production and productivity. Over the years, ICAR has released 82 high-yielding rice varieties and several viable rice production technologies for field adoption by farmers. Particularly during the last two Five-Year Plan periods, several major advances have taken place in releasing new varieties, including disease-resistant ones, and new packages of practice that include sowing and technological developments, energy management, mechanisation, fertiliser management, crop protection, and water management.