Impact of Improved Kharif Onion Varieties in Andhra Pradesh

Author: G. Prasad Babu, Alok Kumar Singh and Satyendra Singh

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Abstract

Onion is being grown in Andhra Pradesh in an area of 44,600 ha with productivity of 16.2 t/ha whereas the national productivity is 18.64 t/ha. Kurnool district is leading in its area and production in Andhra Pradesh state with average productivity of 16.0 t/ha which is lower than the national average productivity. Farmers in Kurnool district despite availability of improved high yielding varieties due to lack of awareness they are growing traditional non-descript (local) varieties in Kharif season as a result of which getting poor yields and low net returns. Challenges are to make farmers aware of latest varieties suitable for kharif and ensure their adoption in the field in order to increase the production, productivity and net income to the farmers. To achieve this National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), Kurnool in collaboration with District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centre (DAATTC), Kurnool conducted demonstrations by practicing Integrated Crop Management practices with L-883 and Agrifound Dark Red improved varieties of NHRDF for three years from 2016 to 2018 in Kharif season in 30 ha area at different locations of Kurnool district in selected farmers’ fields. The productivity and economic returns of onion in demonstrations fields were calculated and compared with the corresponding farmer's practices. Both the varieties recorded higher gross return, net return and cost benefit ratio in demonstration fields as compared to the control plots. Results showed that over the years L-883 and Agrifound dark red varieties performed superior over local check. In case of L-883 variety the gross returns were Rs. 2,74,414/ha, net returns were Rs. 1,18,781/ha with extension gap of 72.30 q/ha, technology gap of 62.0 q/ha, technology index was 20.6% and B:C ratio was 1.76 compared to local variety. In case of Agrifound Dark Red onion variety the gross returns were Rs. 2,27,316/ha, net returns were Rs.76,716/ha with extension gap of 33.7 q/ha, technology gap of 50.6 q/ha, technology index was 20.2% and B:C ratio was 1.5 compared to local variety. L-883 variety harvested 26 days before and Agrifound dark red 16 days before local variety. Further bulb diameters, bulb weight, plant height at maturity, TSS, dry matter % were found to be high in improved varieties compared to local check. Significance in yield difference was found at p < 0.01 in both the improved varieties compared to check variety. Main contributions of this study were farmers made aware of latest improved verities as a result of which there was increase in production, productivity and net income as well as the livelihood of the farming community.

Keywords

Demonstration, Perceived attributes, Technology gap, Extension gap, Technology index, improved Onion varieties

Conclusion

Performance of both NHRDF varieties viz., L-883 and Agrifound Dark Red under demonstration were found to be better than their respective local check. The NHRDF L-883 variety recorded highest yield of 236q/ha with 43.6% average increased yield over the control plot followed by Agrifound Dark Red (199.4 Q/ha) with 20.02%. The economics analysis of the data over three years revealed that L-883 onion variety recorded higher gross returns Rs.2,74,414/-, net returns Rs.1,18,781/- per hectare and B:C ratio 1.76 compared to local check variety. In case of Agrifound Dark Red variety gross returns were Rs.2,27,316/- per hectare, net returns were Rs.76,716/- and B:C ratio 1.5 compared to local check variety. That is the additional net returns Rs.1,06,295/-in L-883 variety on the additional expense of Rs12,486/- and in Agrifound Dark Red variety it was Rs.66,079/- on additional expense of Rs.10,637/- per hectare as an adoption cost over control. Hence it could be concluded that due to adoption of improved varieties and ICM practices instead of using local varieties and traditional practices farmers can get an additional net returns per hectare with improvement in production by 20-42%.

References

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How to cite this article

G. Prasad Babu, Alok Kumar Singh and Satyendra Singh (2023). Impact of improved Kharif Onion varieties in Andhra Pradesh. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(2):195-200.