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Indian J. Crop Science, 1(1-2): 106-108 (2006)

SO

2006

Adoption pattern and constraints analysis of basmati rice:

Implications for enhancing adoption and stabilizing productivity
in Uttaranchal, India
1

H. N. Singh, U.S. Singh, R.K. Singh , V.K. Singh, S.P. Singh and S.C. Mani

H. N. Singh et al.

College of Agriculture, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar 263 145 India
1
National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, DPS Marg Adoption
Pusa, New
pattern
Delhi
and110012
constraints
India
analysis of basmati rice
Abstract
A survey of sixty randomly selected farm households
from 4 villages in Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun
districts was conducted during 2005-06, to analyze
adoption patterns of basmati rice and factors determining
the acreage using Tobit regression approach. Results
showed that increased incidence of insects and diseases,
population growth, higher labour use, more input
requirement and poor market price make basmati rice
cultivation less attractive. Diversification of crops and
varieties, food security, labor out-migration, long
maturing and non-targeted varieties, higher input cost,
high spatial variability of yield and return and poor
market price have led to gradual the decline of area under
basmati varieties. In order to reverse the trend, there is
need to develop cost-effective management practices,
ecosystem-specific and stress-tolerant improved varieties
with high yields that could improve adoption, and
increase net returns, and thus, makes basmati rice
cultivation more attractive.

Introduction
In India, basmati rice is highly favored and fetches
higher prices in domestic as well as in world market
due to its special taste, aroma and flavor. It is exported
to many countries, especially to the Gulf and European
countries. Recognizing its important role in national
economy, 24 districts of the country have been
declared as Basmati Export Zone (BEZ) from Uttar
Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab. In Uttaranchal, four
districts namely, Udhamsinghnagar, Haridwar, Nainital
and Dehradun have been included in the BEZ.
Uttaranchal, being the birth place of basmati (Khush
2000), has the huge potential due to its favorable
climatic conditions and popularity among the farming
community (Mani et al., 2005 and Singh et al,. 2006)
The state can be divided into two distinct
production environments viz: plains and hills. The

plains are characterized as high productive area due to

fertile soil, irrigation facilities and environmental
conditions, whereas hills are entirely rainfed with
terrace topography and poor productivity (Singh et al.,
2006). Unimodal and adequate rainfall during growth
period, suitable temperature during grain filling and
enough sunshine hours provide highly favorable
climatic conditions for the development of quality
characteristics (Table 1). However, these conditions
are also more favorable to development of pathogens
and spread of diseases and insect pests (Mani et al,
2005 and Singh et al,. 2006). The native basmati
producing area continues depleting due to fast
urbanization (Karishma 2006).
After declaration of BEZ, government is
encouraging the production through various packages
of assistance to basmati growers to promote its export
from the state. However, in spite of these efforts, the
relative acreage in export quality basmati is
continuously declining. This paper examines the
various biophysical, technical and socio-economic
factors which could be responsible for the shift from
basmati to non-basmati varieties.
Materials and methods
Survey design and data source: A survey of 60
randomly selected farm households from 4 villages was
conducted during 2005-06 in Udham Singh Nagar and
Dehradun districts, to analyze adoption patterns of
basmati rice and factors determining the acreage using
Tobit regression approach (Greene, 2000). Well
designed pre-tested schedule was used to collect farm
level data from the selected households. Besides
above, data from published sources was also used.

Table 1. Meteorological situation during rice growth in tarai region of Uttaranchal (Averages of last 30 years)
Month

Max. Temp

Min. Temp

Rainfall (mm)

RH (%)
morning

RH (%)
evening

Sunshine
hours

June
July
August
September
October
November

35.7
32.6
31.8
31.4
30.7
27.5

25.1
25.6
25.1
22.2
17.7
11.2

257
422
530
317
60
6

75
89
91
92
86
90

52
70
74
69
56
45

7.5
5.7
5.1
6.4
8.2
8.3

Source: Department of Meteorology, Pantnagar

Adoption pattern and constraints analysis of basmati rice [ 107 ]

Results and discussion
Cultivation of basmati rice on sample farms covered
only about 3% of total rice area (Fig.1). There may be
different inter-related reasons for this. Pusa basmati 1
was the major basmati variety which was planted on
more than half of basmati area due to its high yield
potential, followed by Dehradun basmati and Basmati
370 (Singh et al., 2002). The latter varieties were more
popular in plains of Dehradun and Haridwar, while the
former
variety
was intensively cultivated in
UdhamSinghNagar and Nainital districts. The other
varieties of basmati are rarely spread in all four districts
(Fig 2). The promising non-basmati rice varieties of
terai are Sarbati, PNR 113 and HKR 120 which
occupied more than 70% of total rice area.
Fig 2. Area coverage under Basm ati
varieties
NonBasm ati
97%
Basm ati
3%

Non-basm ati

Basm ati

Fig 3. Share of area by Basm ati varieties

8%

5% 3%
P usa B asmati 1
Dehradun Basmati

13%

Sugandh 4
Taravari

54%
17%

Kasturi
B asmati 386

Table 2 presents the historic background of major

basmati varieties being grown on sample farms in
study area, alongwith their maturity duration and

potential yield. As evident, none of the varieties has

any kind of resistant traits against pests and diseases
(Sharma and Rao 2004). The climatic data analysis
indicates that the rice growing environment of tarai
were quite prone to various kinds of rice pests and
diseases. Non-availability of targeted varieties for the
specific environments seems to be an added factor.
The predominating varieties like Pusa Basmati 1,
Basmati 370, T 3, Taraori, Sugandh 4 and Kasturi are
disease susceptible and tall making them prone to
lodging and also non-responsive to fertilizers. Similar
finding were also experienced Singh et al., 2005 during
their effort to developed pest resistance variety of
basmati rice.
Costs and returns: The farmers were concerned
more on account of high cost of inputs used, which
was about 33% higher in basmati, compared to its
relative net return that was about 30% (Table 3). The
benefit/cost ratio was at par for basmati and
non-basmati varieties (1.50), but the opportunity costs
of additional inputs involved in basmati cultivation, were
higher (Mani et al., 2005). The spatial variability of
plot-level yields of basmati varieties was also higher
(Singh et al., 2005). The existing market price and the
cost of production did not show any favorable
incentives for basmati over non-basmati and other
alternatives available. Intensive use of pesticides, at
least four sprays, to control various kinds of
diseases/pests also affects quality of grain, human
health and environment.
Factors determining adoption of basmati varieties:
Using the household-level data, Tobit estimation was
conducted to determine the marginal effects of various
factors on the area planted to basmati varieties. The
proportionate area planted to basmati varieties by the
households was used as dependent variable. The
explanatory variables were farm and family size, total
labour use and expenses incurred on pesticides (Table
4). These variables were found to have statistically
significant effects. The estimated marginal coefficient
indicates that one hectare increase in farm size was
associated with a 5% increase in proportion of area
planted to basmati varieties; the remaining three
variables had negative marginal effects (Singh et al.,
2006).

Table 2. Major basmati rice varieties grown in Uttaranchal.

Varieties

Duration (days)

Year of release

Average yield
(qtls/ha)

Status of
resistance

Pusa Basmati 1

150

1989

40

Basmati 370

140

1974

25

T3 (Dehradun basmati)

150

1973

30

Taraoari Basmati

150

1996

20

Sugandh 4

140

2004

25

Kasturi

125

1989

25

Indian J. Crop Science 1, 1-2 (2006)

[ 108 ]

H. N. Singh et al.

Table 3. Costs and returns of basmati and non-basmati rice varieties (Rs/ha)
Particulars

Basmati

Non-basmati

11130

8260

8351

6375

19481

14635

a. Operational cost
b. Material cost
Total cost
Yield (qtl/ha)

22.15

40.20

Gross return

29213

22105

Net return

9732

7470

B:C Ratio

1.50

1.50

33

17

Spatial variability of plot-level yields (%)

Table 4. Tobit model estimates of basmati adoption
Variables

Coefficient of estimates for

Basmati Adapters*

Standard error

Marginal effects

Farm size (ha)

Family size (no)
Total labor use (days/ha)
Cost of pesticides used (Rs/ha)

0.0479
-0.0415
-0.0132
-0.0127

0.0920
0.2003
0.1625
0.0156

0.9470
0.3067
0.0978
0.0198

Constant

0.0795

0.2174

0.5878

Sample size
Log likelihood

60
-47.4732

*Used the Mcdonald-Mofit method of decomposition to derive estimates for farm household who actually adopted
basmati over non-basmati

Keeping other factors constant, a one person

increase in household population was associated with
4% decrease in the area planted to basmati, due to
increased food requirement of the family. Similarly, one
labor increase in the crop management was associated
with 1.3 % decrease in the area under basmati. Labor
market becomes tightened in rural areas due to
out-migration for better earnings and employment from
non-farm sector. Use of pesticide was a major
component of input cost of basmati rice and accounted
for more than 22%. With one Rupee increase in
expenses on pesticides, there was 1.3 percent
decrease in the area under basmati. Thus, the
marginal negative effect of family size is greater than
that of total labor use and cost of pesticides.

Sharma S.D. and U. Prasada Rao (eds.). 2004. Genetic

improvement of rice varieties in India. Volumes 1and 2.
New Delhi: Today and Tomorrows Printers and
Publishers.

References

Singh H.N, Pandey S. and Lapitan A. 2006. Patterns of

modern rice varieties adoption and constraints in their
diffusion in Eastern India. Paper presented In
International Rice Congress October 9-13, 2006 New
Delhi

Greene W.H. 2000. Econometric analysis. New Jersey:

Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Khush G.S. 2000. Taxonomy and origin of rice, pp 5-14 In:
R.K. Singh, U.S. Singh and G.S. Khush (ed) Aromatic
Rices , Science Publishers Inc USA
Karishma 2006. Personal communication with a social
activist working on Constraints of Rice Production in
Dehradun Uttaranchal.
Mani S.C., Singh U.S. and Ram B. 2005 Basmati rice in
Uttaranchal: A futuristic approach pp 64-74 In: R.K. Singh
and U.S. Singh (ed). Scented Rices from Uttar Pradesh
and Uttaranchal. Kalyani Publishers New Delhi
Indian J. Crop Science 1, 1-2 (2006)

Singh A.K., Singh V.P., Zaman F.U. and Hariparasad A.S.

2005. Promoting long and extra-long grain aromatic rice
varieties for improving productivity and production, pp
57-63 In: R.K. Singh and U.S. Singh (ed.) Scented
Rices from Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal. Kalyani
Publishers New Delhi
Singh H.N., Singh S, Singh U.S., Singh Abha, Singh R.K.
and Mani S.C. 2005. Kalanamak Rice Research:
Breaking the yield barriers and improving equity, pp
114-128 In: RK Singh and US Singh (ed.) Scented
Rices from Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal. Kalyani
Publishers New Delhi

Singh R.K., Ahuja Uma and Ahuja S.C. 2006. Basmati for
prosperity. Indian Farming: 56.7. 33-36
Singh V.P., Singh A.K., Atwal S.S., Joseph
and
Mahapatra M. 2002.
Pusa 1121: Rice line with
exceptionally high cooked kernel elongation and basmati
quality. IRRI News Letter 27.1.25-26.