In Dakshina Kannada, paddy is a major staple food crop mainly grown during kharif in medium and low laying fields. Coastal Karnataka has > 1500 ha of paddy land that inundates with flood for long duration creating unfavourable situation for paddy cultivation and resulting in low production. In coastal Karnataka more priority has been paid towards cultivation of indigenous red paddy varieties. But these varieties are tall with lodging problem, does not respond to fertilizer and provide less yield. Realizing this problem during 2020-21 ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dakshina Kannada, Mangalore took initiative to purchase the truthful labelled seeds for introduction and popularization of flood resistant red rice variety - Sahyadri Panchamukhi in the coastal district. During 2020-21 to 2022-23, 12 capacity building programmes were organized at different villages of Dakshina Kannada benefiting 267 farmers and 6.25 quintals of truthful labelled paddy seed as critical input was provided to motivate the farmers for adoption of new variety covering an area of 25 acre under Front Line Demonstration programme. During the period from 2020 to 2022, KVK organized 3 FLDs, 2 seed production activity and seed source link connection to different line departments, NGOs, farmers group resulted an area expansion with Sahyadri Panchamukhi is of 576 ha across the district with a production of 28800 quintals and increase in productivity from 18 to 20%. The total additional returns gained in the district is Rs. 891 Lakhs due to varietal replacement.

Flood, Sahyadri Panchamukhi, FLD, Production, Returns

Front Line Demonstrations on flood resistant red rice variety Sahyadri Panchamukhi contributed 36.84 % higher yield and 45.63 % higher net returns than farmer’s practice. The increase in yield of paddy under flood prone area to the extent of FLDs created greater awareness and motivated the other farmers to adopt this flood resistant red rice variety.

Naveen Kumar, B. T., Mallikarjuna, L., Shivakumar, R. and Kedarnath (2023). Impact of Flood Resistant Red Rice Variety – Sahyadri Panchamukhi on Socio-Economic status of Coastal Farmers of Karnataka. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(12): 320-322.