Development and Diffusion of Improved Sorghum Cultivars in India: Impact on Growth and Variability in Yield

Abstract

Sorghum is the third cereal crop after rice and wheat in India mostly grown under marginal and stress-prone areas of Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT). NARS, ICRISAT and private seed companies are the major stakeholders working for sorghum crop improvement in the last fifty years. Altogether more than 293 improved cultivars have been notified and made available to farmers during the same time. The current knowledge about spread and impact of sorghum improved crop varieties in the country is incomplete. Very little statistically valid information is available on the extent of adoption at national and sub-national levels. The present study made a humble attempt to address these issues with help of primary as well as secondary sources of data. The analysis has concluded that nearly 80 per cent of total sorghum areas are under improved cultivars which helped to increase the mean country productivity levels to the tune of 71 per cent between 1960 and 2010. The results also proved that adoption of improved cultivars increased the yields substantially and also reduced its variability in the country