Yield Increase in Major Oil Seeds in India through Replacement by New Climate Resilient Varieties

The increased frequencies of extreme climatic events are affecting oilseed production and productivity in India. The deployment of new climate resilient (CR) varieties and ensuring the availability of quality seed are pre-requisite, as these crops are grown predominantly under rain-fed conditions. In the present study, attempts had been made to analyse the effects of new CR varieties in terms of increased productivity of major oilseed crops individually in major states and also season-wise during period II (2007–2008 to 2012–2013) over period I (2001–2002 to 2006–2007) by comparing the mean yield through paired ‘t’ test. Overall, seed replacement rates (SRRs) had been increased tremendously for all oilseeds and by two to three folds in soybean & groundnut, respectively, during period II, whereas for varietal replacement rates (VRRs), on the basis of 2/3 years average indented Breeder Seed, the share of CR varieties increased by 41.4% (Soybean), 21.9% (Groundnut) and 13.1% (Rapeseed & Mustard). During period II, for groundnut in Karnataka & Tamil Nadu; for Brassicas, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal; for Soybean, only in Madhya Pradesh; whereas for sunflower in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, TN; and at national level, statistically significant yield increase observed. Overall, the significant productivity gains were observed; for rabi oilseeds, in AP, Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, MP, Punjab, UP, WB and National level; for kharif, in Bihar, Karnataka, MP, Orissa, Punjab and TN, whereas in total, oilseeds in Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, MP, Orissa, Punjab, TN, WB and at national level significant yield increase were recorded, whereas the variability in yield decreased during the same period at national level in rabi, kharif and in total oilseed. The association between mean yield during period II and percentage irrigated area was found to be significant in sunflower (0.992**) and in total oilseeds (0.524*). The present study concluded that to achieve higher productivity and production vis-à-vis to mitigate climate change effect, both VRR and SRR should be considered simultaneously, being their joint impact was synergistic and multiplicative, as proved in cotton, being secondary crop for vegetable oil purposes, the combined effect of both VRR (Bt-cotton) & SRR (100% being hybrids) had increased production and productivity exorbitantly by annual growth rate of 13.53% and 9.99%, respectively, from 2000–2001 to 2013–2014.