Current Status and Development Strategy of Hybrid Rice in India

This paper presented the current status quo of hybrid rice in India from the breeding,seed production and extension and the existing problems and barriers,based on which the corresponding countermeasures were put forward.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Optimization and Cultivar Selection for Rice Grown near Mountainous Slopes in Orissa,India—A Field Experiment and Simulation Model Study

Degradation of the natural resource base has led to decline in crop yields or stagnation that caused food shortages at varying degrees among mountain families. Rice, the major staple food in Asia, is suffering from lack of suitable cultivar and N fertilizer management, when grown near mountainous slopes under rain-fed agro-ecosystem. An investigation through a field experiment and simulation study was conducted at United Nations University, Tokyo to select suitable rice cultivars and N fertilizer level for the rice grown near mountainous slopes in Orissa, India. The field experiment was conducted during wet season （June to November） of 2001 at Kasiadihi village of Dhenkanal district, Orissa, India with eight popular rice cultivars of medium （120～130 d） and long duration （135～150 d） group and four N levels （0, 40, 80 and 120 kg·ha^-1）. Highest grain yield of 5,680 kg·ha^-1 was obtained from cultivar Ranjit of long duration group followed by 4,730 kg·ha^-1 from cultivar Mahamaya of medium duration group, across N levels. CERES-Rice model was used to simulated grain yield of these two selected cultivars using historical weather data of the past 18 years （1983～2000）. Long duration cultivar Ranjit registered higher yield with lower stability as compared medium duration cultivar Mahamaya over the past 18 years. An optimum N fertilizer level of 80 kg·ha^-1 was recommended for rice grown under rain-fed ecosystem near mountainous slopes in Orissa, India to attain optimum yield potential of cultivar.

Studies on Heteroses of Pei'ai 64S/Javanica Rice

Agronomic traits and heteroses of javanica varieties and the indica/javanica hybrids in Changsha are reported. Javanica rice exhibits long panicles, big grains, less panicles per plant, a long growth duration and high plant height in Changsha. The hybrid of Pei'ai 64S/javanica possesses positive heterobeltiosis in culm height, panicle length, panicles per plant, spikelets per panicle, grains per panicle, yield per plant, theoretic yield per hectare and actual yield per hectare; performs negative heterobeltiosis in days to flower, seed setting rate and 1000-grain weight. There are significant linear regression relations between culm height of the hybrid and panicle length of its male parent, panicle length of the hybrid and that of its male parent, spikelets per panicle of the hybrid and spikelets per panicle and panicle length of its male parent, grains per panicle of the hybrid and spikelets per panicle of its male parent, 1000-grain weight of the hybrid and spikelets per panicle of its male parent, respectively. In general, significant differences at 1% level are seen in most traits except grains per panicle and theoretic yield per hectare between the indica/javanica hybrid and Pei'ai 64S/Teqin (CK). Compared with the check, the indica/javanica hybrids have positive Standard heterosis in culm height, panicle length, spikelets per panicle, grains per panicle and 1000-grain weight but negative standard heterosis in days to flower, panicles per plant, seed setting rate, theoretic yield per hectare and actual yield per hectare. For the individuals, 11.1% hybrids possess > 40% standard heterosis in theoretic yield per hectare, 3.7% possess >40% standard heterosis in actual yield per hectare. The javanica restorer line 770 derives from a single cross of Pei'ai 64S/Moroberekan B-51-4-9-2. The hybrid 43S/770 possesses an elite plant type and strong heterosis.

Food security status in rural areas of Mizoram,Northeast India

Rural areas practice subsistence of the Mizoram state, India agriculture where shifting cultivation dominates the farming systems. As a result, output from crops is very low and thus, the rural areas suffer from food insecurity. This paper analyses food security status in the rural areas of Mizoram and suggests the measures to attain food security. A case study of 16 villages, lying in all the eight districts of Mizoram, was conducted in 2014 and 1527 households （76%） out of total 2010 households were surveyed through purposive random sampling method. Structured questionnaire was constructed and questions on three food security components and 13 indicators were asked. We used Z score technique to calculate data and finally got a composite score of all the components of food security. Our result shows that food availability in the study villages is very less as composite score stands for o.oo3 whereas food accessibility is comparatively higher, mainly due to availability of fair price shops （mean value is one）, high agricultural working population （40.1%） and high literacy rate （70.6%）. Therefore, its composite score is 0.236. Food stability scores only -0.062 and finally overall food security stands for 0.178, which is inadequate. We have suggested that‘system rice intensification＇, which is already in practice, should be given priority. Adequate irrigation facilities, proper public distribution system, cultivation of fruits and vegetables, value addition in farm products and access to market may achieve food security.

Rice ＋ Fish Farming in Homesteads： Sustainable Natural-Resource Management for Subsistence in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Understanding the attributes of traditional, location-specific land-use systems will provide insights for improvement of such systems and design of new ones for wider applicability. The integrated rice ＋ fish system developed by the Apatani tribe of Ziro valley, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeastern India is such a unique system. Faced with shortages of their staple food items （rice and fish）, these subsistence farmers developed this ingenious system--in preference to the wide-spread shifting cultivation in the region--by capitalizing on the good water supply （from rainfall supplemented by natural flow from hills surrounding the valley）. Two rice crops are grown annually and fish is reared in paddy fields during the main rainy season. Crop residues and animal wastes are the sources of nutrients to crops, chemical fertilizers and insecticides are not used. Over the years, rice yield has been stable at about 3,700 kg.ha-1.year-1. Recently, UNESCO has tentatively added the valley as a ＂world heritage site＂ recognizing its ＂extremely high productivity＂ and ＂unique＂ ecological preservation. The resilience and the sustainability of the system could be attributed to efficient nutrient cycling and nutrient input through water seeping in from surrounding hills, which have not been, but deserve to be, quantified.