Assessment of Improved Varieties under Different Climate Vulnerabilities

A study was conducted for response of varieties to climate vulnerabilities like floods and droughts in selected villages of 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The demonstrations on improved cultivars along with the respective local checks were compared with the participating farmers. The results showed that improved varieties of paddy (PLA-1100), Indra (MTU-1061) and RGL-2537 in Srikakulam while MTU-1121 and MTU-7029 in West Godavari districts were found tolerant to floods and submerged lands in Andhra Pradesh and registered 25–60% higher yield over respective local checks. The improved varieties of groundnut (K-9), pigeonpea (LRG-41) and castor (PCH-111) in Anantapur, chickpea (Digvijay), pigeonpea (PRG-158), blackgram (LBG-645), greengram (MGG-295) and tomato (Nirupam) in Nalgonda while pigeonpea (MRG-1004) in Khammam were found stable in rainfed environment. In Maharashtra, improved varieties of chickpea (Digvijay) in Ahmednagar, Aurangabad and Nandurbar districts and JAKI-9218 in Amaravati and Gondia districts gave 25–35% higher yield and net returns compared to respective local checks. Improved varieties of soybean (JS-9305) in Pune and Amaravati, JayBt-3028 (cotton), CSH-14 (sorghum) in Amravati, NIAW-34 (wheat) in Ahmednagar, SPV-1411 (rabi sorghum) in Aurangabad gave higher productivity and profitability under rainfed conditions.