2025, Vol. 8, Issue 5, Part F

author(s)
MV Krishnaji, T Srinivas, Y Sunieetha and N Srinivasa Rao

abstract
Rice is the staple food crop cultivated in Andhra Pradesh state of India. The Godavari zone consists of 5 districts viz., East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Kakinada and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district. An effort was made to identify the varietal preference of rice growers, millers and consumers in the zone. Data was collected from 50 farmers, 50 millers and 50 consumers selected by using simple random sampling method. The results indicating that the farmers are considering high yield potential as a major factor for selection of a variety with mean score of 4.66 followed by high miller preference (4.58), high market rate (4.54), non - lodging trait (4.52), submergence tolerance (4.40) traits. And most of the them are preferring MTU 7029 variety with rank I and mean score of 112.3, followed by MTU 1318 (108.4), MTU 1064 (107.6), Samapda (104.5), MTU 1061 (103.7), PLA 1100 (101.1) during Kharif season. MTU 1121 is the major variety with mean score of 109.7 and rank I, followed by MTU 3626 (104.7), MTU 1156 (100.5), MTU 1153 (97.9), RNR 15048 (96.2), PR 126 (95.5), SL 10 (95.2) and MTU 1124 (87.3) during rabi. Whereas millers are considering less abdominal chalkiness is the primary factor (mean score 2.8) while preferring a variety, followed by followed by high HRR (2.72), high milling recovery (2.66), ideal moisture percentage (2.60). MTU 7029 and MTU 1121 are the most preferred rice varieties by the millers during Kharif and rabi seasons respectively. The consumers are considering fine and translucent kernel character is the primary factor with mean score of 2.52 for selection of a variety, followed by white coloured rice (2.38), aged rice (2.36), non-sticky nature (2.30), more expansion after cooking (2.26), High keeping quality (1.98). Most of the consumers are preferring HMT Sona (Jeelakarra Sannalu), RNR 15048 (Telengana Sona) and BPT 5204 (Samba Mashuri) with ranks I, II & III respectively. By considering these findings the researchers of the zone need to develop short slender fine rice varieties with high yielding capacity, high HRR and suitable for consumption.