Traditional and Recommended Practices in Paddy Cultivation in Mid Hills

Paddy is the second most important cereal crop in hills of Uttarakhand. It is cultivated both as irrigated and rainfed crop. Hill farmers are still continuing the traditional varieties and their package of practices in paddy cultivation. Farmers in Someswar valley of Almora mainly cultivating two traditional paddy varieties Thapchini and China -4 under irrigated conditions. These varieties are preferred because of good plant height, thin stalk, suitability under high and low moisture conditions, resistant to lodging, easy in threshing, quality fodder, good cooking quality, better taste, good yield and shallow root helps in easy ploughing after crop harvesting. The production technologies of traditional varieties on seeding time, nursery management, plant geometry and crop duration were found different over the recommended. Farmers have their own perception behind adoption of these practices. Though, some of their perception seems to be rational but others are due to lack of awareness, knowledge and available resources. The study provides necessary feed back for selection of varieties and package of practices those can help in education and training the farmers.