Consequences of summer rice cultivation as experienced by farmers: A perception-based study

Abstract

Summer rice cultivation is extensively practiced due to widespread irrigation availability in Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh state. Among the five blocks in the district, two blocks (Nawagarh and Akaltara) were purposively selected based on the highest area under summer rice. From these blocks, a total of eight villages and from each village, 20 summer rice growers were randomly selected, constituting a total sample of 160 respondents. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured interview schedule and analyzed in line with the study objectives to assess the perceived status and consequences- both positive and negative of summer rice cultivation. Findings revealed several advantageous outcomes as perceived by the farmers. These included year-round employment opportunities for both hired laborers (87.50%) & farm families (86.87%), increased farm income (76.25%) and lower incidence of pests and diseases (86.25%), attributed to high temperatures during the summer season. On the contrary, farmers also reported several challenges, which included low selling price of the produce (90.62%), yield reduction due to heat stress (88.75%), lack of education and technical know-how (80.00%), and poor adoption of improved technologies (78.17%).The study highlights the dual nature of summer rice cultivation, providing both economic opportunities and technological as well as environmental challenges. These findings underscore the need for policy interventions, better market access, farmer education, and adaptive technologies to sustain and enhance the profitability and viability of summer rice farming in the region.