Rice is a priority crop and a staple food in Jammu & Kashmir, where a good proportion of area is still under land races. Increasing population and rising demand for rice necessitate more production from the existing resources. Considering the role of sharp edge technologies to realize major SDGs (no poverty, no hunger, good education, good health), the SKUAST-Kashmir has been developing/sharpening rice seed technologies to replace land races for yield gains. There has been widespread dissemination of these technologies that makes it imperative to assess the role of important S&T interventions and livelihood security in three agro-ecologies of rice in Kashmir. This paper has assessed the impact of six improved/high yielding varieties of rice on farm returns and livelihood security of farmers. This study used primary data collected from sample respondents selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Besides regression function of exponential form, CARE livelihood framework with little modifications was employed to analyze the data. The results show that rice finds its importance in the cropping pattern owing to suitable environment. Adopters of rice seed technologies ‘SR-2, SR-3, Jhelum, K-332 and Mushk budji’ allocate more area to these varieties, and pursue more or less scientific practices. Adopters were incurred more costs on inputs yet the unit cost of production was significantly lower. They also realized more rupee returns per unit of investment. Adoption of frontier technologies thus not only increases incomes, but also play an important role in securing livelihood. SKUAST-Kashmir has drawn a road map for the sustenance of livestock security through technological change emphasizing on institutional mechanism for prompt seed replacement rates and dissemination of technologies.
