Enhancing climate resilience of smallholders through rigorous On-Farm Validation of DSR suitable varieties and evidence driven varietal recommendations in rainfed upland ecologies of India

Access to climate-resilient rice varieties is vital for strengthening smallholder resilience to erratic weather and water stress. To generate field-level evidence for varietal recommendation and seed scaling, 25 entries (13 advanced IRRI breeding lines and 12 released varieties) were evaluated under farmer-managed upland conditions in Odisha, India, during Kharif 2022. Trials used both dry direct-seeded rice (DSR) and puddled transplanted rice (PTR) systems, laid out in an alpha-lattice design and analysed using mixed linear models. CR Dhan 211 (IR 14L572) consistently recorded the highest predicted yields across establishment methods and locations, confirming its superior performance under aerobic conditions as observed in AICRIP national trials. To validate broader adaptability and farmer acceptance, CR Dhan 211 was compared with farmers’ preferred varieties across eight districts in four additional states (Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal) during Kharif 2023. These on-farm comparisons strengthened farmer confidence and informed regional scaling strategies. The multi-stage, farmer-centric evaluation approach generated robust evidence for varietal suitability and accelerated its advancement through the national testing and release system, enhancing timely access to climate-resilient rice for smallholder farmers.