Basmati rice cultivation for resource conservation and use efficiency in context of sustainable agriculture in Punjab

The present paper studied resource use pattern and economic viability and various biotic and a biotic constraints of basmati rice and non-basmati rice cultivation in the state. The study has been based on the sample of 200 basmati rice growers spreading over five districts of the state during 2008?09. Basmati cultivation saved around 18, 81, 70 and 39 percent irrigation water, urea, DAP and zinc fertilizers respectively as compared to non-basmati rice crop. Basmati rice promised more returns over variable costs to the tune of 4562 per hectare over the non-basmati rice. This showed that basmati rice cultivation was both resources conserving as well as better remunerative. The regression analysis has brought out that there existed scope to further increase in the use of human labour, plant population and insecticides/pesticides for improving the yield of basmati rice in the state. The price variability and difficulty to access price related information were the most important marketing problems for basmati rice. Sample farmers wanted that the scientists to evolve new dwarf varieties to minimize the water logging losses. Basmati rice yield needs to be enhanced through genetically improved varieties. To encourage the farmers to increase the area under basmati rice, the goernment need to formulate a policyto ensure adequate support price for basmati rice just on the pattern of non-basmati rice.