Evaluation study of integrated cultivation technology on yield of rabi onion under demonstrations in Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Assam State (India)

Abstract

Demonstrations are the one of the most important tool for transfer of technology at grass root level that directly impacts the spread of technology. Onion is grown in kharif, late kharif and Rabi seasons in India, major onion grown in Rabi season all over India, but it's cultivated on upland in kharif/late kharif all over India. Even though its productivity recorded is low due to lacking in knowledge of scientific production technology and high yielding variety suitable to soil and climate. In order to increase the productivity of kharif onion with adoption of improved technology, 80 no's of demonstration in 20 hectare on onion variety Agrifound Dark Red (ADR) were conducted during 2014–15 by National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, in different locations of three states viz Bihar, Rajasthan and Gujarat state through TDTD (Technology Dissemination through Demonstration) under National Horticulture Mission at selected farmers ’fields. From the conducted demonstrations, it was revealed that, an average increased yield of onion crop 11.62 per cent was achieved with average technology gap of 85.50 q/ha of onion bulb production. Also reduce technology index of 28.50 per cent was noticed during the year. An increased average net monetary return of 333200.00 and B: C ratio 5.12 was obtained in the demonstrated technology over control plot with average net monetary returns 218500.00 and B: C 3.85. The higher returns was due to higher bulbs yields as well as higher market price with sorting/grading of bulbs obtained in the demonstration technology over control plots. Obtained maximum onion bulb yield with higher monetary returns, B: C ratio, higher adoption index, reduction in technology index per cent & extension gap Qtl/ha in Gujarat State, whereas Obtained minimum onion bulb yield with lower monetary returns with B: C ratio, lower adoption index, maximum technology index per cent & maximum extension gap Qtl/ha in Bihar state.