Hybrid Rice in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh was the first state in India to develop and release two rice hybrids during the 1993-94 dry seasons. Hybrid rice technology was projected as the harbinger of another rice revolution in the state, as the yield potential of existing varieties was declining. However, the initial experiences of farmers who grew hybrid rice in the state indicated that it was not profitable relative to existing modern varieties. Recently, scientists have claimed that the initial experiences of hybrid rice cultivators are no longer relevant as many new rice hybrids of better quality were developed and marketed by the late 1990s. The current study tests, the widely propagated hypothesis that these new rice hybrids have been accepted by farmers in Andhra Pradesh.