Economic Analysis of Rice Technology and Factors Affecting Rice Productivity in Himachal Pradesh

Rice is on important cereal crop of Himachal Pradesh being third to wheat and maize in overall cropping scenario and the second important crop after maize in kharif season. Rice accounts for about 20 per cent of area in kharif season and contributes to 18 per cent of the total food grain production in this season. Production of rice in Himachal Pradesh has increased with annual growth of 0.92 per cent. This increase in production was mainly due to significant growth of 1.36 per cent per annum in yield of rice over the period 1990–91 to 2008–09 while the area recorded decrease of 0.44 per cent per annum during this period. Since 1990–91, CSKHPKV released 14 varieties of rice and out of these, HPR 2143 released in 2005 is presently in the seed supply chain and has been found quite promising in terms of yield potential and quality traits. The elasticity of production was quite high with respect to irrigation (0.55), adaption of improved variety (0.15), transplanting (0.23), and fertilizer use (0.11). It was estimated that increase of over 5 per cent per annum could be achieved in productivity of rice by bringing 10 per cent increase in area under new variety, S per cent increase in area under transplanted rice and fertilizer use and 4 per cent increase in area under irrigated rice.