Research Paper Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences 5(6): 1242-1245, November-December (2014) ISSN: 0976-1675 https: // www.rjas.org DI: 1929-1206-2014-332 Technological Interventions to Increase the Production and Productivity of Rice (Oryza sativa) in Mid Altitude Temperate Ecologies of Kashmir Farooq A Sheikh* , Tasneem M ubark, Hamidullah Itoo, Zahoor A Bhat, Tariq A Sofi and S A Bangroo Krishi Vigyan Kendra (SKUAST - Kashmir), Post Office Gopalpora Kulgam - 192 233, Jammu and Kashmir, India e-mail: sfaroq4@rediffmail.com Received: 12 June 2014; Revised accepted: 03 October 2014 A B S T R A C T The productivity of rice in the mid altitude temperate ecologies of Kashmir valley continue to be quite low on account of several biotic and abiotic stresses. Low temperature during the nursery period causes cold stress, which adversely affects seedling growth. Unavailability of quality seed of suitable cold tolerant varieties and lack of knowledge about related production and protection technologies are other reasons for low crop yield. In view of these, an effort was made to boost the rice production through on farm testing and frontline demonstrations of improved rice variety and its recommended production and protection technologies at farmers’ field. On-farm testing of different varieties revealed that rice variety K-448 (Jehlum) registered a high yield potential of 60.0 q/ha as against 38.0 q/ha of the local check with a yield advantage of 22.52% over farmers’ practice in frontline demonstrations. Use of modified protected nursery shortened the nursery period, provided healthy seedling and reduced crop duration which is important for profitable double cropping under temperate conditions. This technique further improved yield by 12% over open nursery. K-448 gave maximum returns of ` 58662.0 against ` 48145.0 from the farmers practice The study reveals that rice production can be greatly increased in the mid altitude temperate regions of Kashmir by the use of improved variety (K-448) and recommended production and protection technology. Key words: Oryza sativa , Protected nursery, Temperate ecology, Front line demonstration Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food of more than 70% of the world population (Yadav and Singh 2006). India is the leading rice producing country in terms of area and is the second largest producer next to China. It is staple food of the people of temperate Kashmir Valley grown on about 1.5 lakh hectares (Trag and Wani 2009). Its cultivation extends from the planes having altitude 1600 m above the mean sea level to high altitude hills 2300 m above msl in the valley. Average yield of rice (2.5-3 t/ha) is however far less than the potential and there is a huge gap between the present production at farmers’ field and the potential production in the region (Mubarak and Zargar 2009). The reasons for this are low temperature particularly during the nursery period, lack of quality seed of improved varieties, poor nutrient, pest and water management. In order to narrow down the yield gaps and for achieving maximum yield, testing and demonstration of improved rice technologies in farmer’ participatory mode is essential (Pal et al. 2008). In view of these Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)- Kulgam, S. K. University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Kashmir conducted multi location trials at farmers’ filed for assessment of new potential varieties of rice suitable for mid altitudes areas (upto 1850 m amsl) and also to assess the impact of modified protected nursery, which is a cheap and easily affordable technique particularly for marginal farmers of the temperate Kashmir valley. The potential variety of rice K-448 was identified and its seed was multiplied at KVK-instructional farm and farmers’ field (Seed Village Programmes) and demonstrated at farmers’ field along with the related technology generated by the SKUAST-K. These demonstrations convinced farmers to adopt the technology and gave a great boost to production and productivity of rice in the area. The present study analyses the results and impact of OFTs and FLDs in the yield enhancement of rice through technological interventions at higher elevations of temperate Kashmir. M ATERI ALS AND M ETHODS On farm trials (OFTs) were conducted at three locations of mid altitude areas during kharif seasons of 2006 and 2007 in farmer’s participatory mode with three low altitude varieties viz K-39, K-448 (Jehlum) and China-1039 and 1 242