Economics and Yield Gap Analysis of Front Line Demonstrations Regarding Scientific Practices of Indian Mustard in Punjab

Abstract

The Front Line Demonstration (FLD) is an applied approach to accelerate the dissemination of proven technologies at farmers ’fields in a participatory mode with an objective to explore the maximum available resources of crop production and also to bridge the productivity gaps by enhancing the production in national basket. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Amritsar, Punjab conducted 82 demonstrations on Indian mustard variety GSC 6 during five consecutive years from 2010–11 to 2014–15. The critical inputs were identified in existing production technology through meetings and discussions with farmers. Delayed sowing, use of higher seed rate resulting into dense plant population, uneven plant population, uncontrolled weeds, ignorance about fertilizers and lack of plant protection measures were the predominant identified causes of low productivity of oilseeds in district Amritsar. In the same sequence the other parameters like technology gap, extension gap and technology index were analyzed for assessment of technology adoption rate with extension activities and feasibility of demonstrated technologies at grass root levels. The results of five years study revealed that the yield under demonstration plots was 12.62 q ha'1 as compared to 9.02 q ha'1 in traditional practices plots. This additional yield of 3.60 q ha'1 and the increase in average mustard productivity by 40.35 per cent may contribute to present oilseed requirement on national basis. The average of technology gap and technological index were found to be 2.55 q ha'1 and 16.81 per cent respectively. The results clearly indicate the positive effects of FLDs over the existing practices. Benefit: cost ratio was recorded to be higher under demonstrations against control treatments during all the years of experimentation.