Assessing the Economic Influence of Swarna Shakti Dhan in Rainfed Farming Systems

AbstractRice holds significant agricultural importance in the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand, yet its productivity remains constrained by the lack of adoption of drought-tolerant varieties and optimal agricultural practices. This study, conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, aimed to evaluate the impact of frontline demonstrations showcasing improved production technologies for drought-tolerant Rice. The findings indicate that the Swarna Shakti Dhan variety exhibited the highest grain yield (ranging from 47.50 to 49.25 quintals per hectare) under rainfed conditions in the North Chhota Nagpur hill region during kharif seasons from 2020-21 to 2022-23. The average yield in the demonstration reached 49.34 quintals per hectare, surpassing the 44.22 quintals per hectare observed in traditional farmer practices. Key metrics such as the average technology gap, extension gap, and technology index were determined as 4.65 per cent, 5.95 percent, and 8.46 per cent, respectively. Notably, the average rice yield in the demonstration exhibited a noteworthy increase of 12.34 per cent in comparison to farmer practices. This underscores the positive impact of introducing advanced technologies and drought-tolerant varieties on enhancing Rice productivity in the region.