Hybrid rice seed production in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states of India: a situation analysis

Abstract

The paper attempts to make a situation analysis of hybrid rice seed production in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states of India from the perspectives of hybrid rice seed producers by employing the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT) method. Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance (w) was used to test the rank of factors associated with SWOT. The coefficients of concordance for SWOT were 0.6. This indicates that there is agreement among the seed producers about the factors that influence SWOT of hybrid rice seed production in the study area. The results revealed that, income stability, price certainty and timely supply of inputs and technical advices were the major strengths in hybrid rice seed production. The major weaknesses were a lower price being offered by the companies to the seed producers, lack of legal safe guard mechanism and drudgery in additional operations like rouging and supplementary pollination. Availability of quality seed and cooperative farming, which leads to improvement in standard of living, was perceived as the opportunities in hybrid rice seed production. The threats to hybrid rice seed production were perceived as dependence of seed producers for inputs and technical advices on the companies and monocropping. From results of the present study, it is suggested that there is a need to evolve legal safeguard mechanism to avoid breach of contract between producers and seed companies.