Front Line Demonstration Program: An Effective Technology Transfer Tool for Adoption of Oilseed Production Technology in Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Oilseed productivity in Himachal Pradesh, India, in northwestern (NW) Himalayas is far less than national averages because of poor crop management. Frontline demonstration (FLD) program is an effective technology transfer tool for better technology adoption that bridges the yield gaps. The technological and extension yield gaps in oilseed crops were studied for 3 years during Kharif 2008 to Rabi 2010–2011 under an FLD program in the Mandi District in Himachal Pradesh, India, revealing that there was a wide yield gap between potential and demonstration yields due to technology and extension yield gaps. Extension yield gaps varied to the extent of 577–905 kg ha−1 in soybean (Glycine max), 108–195 kg ha−1 in sesame (Sesamum indicum), 237–350 kg ha−1 in linseed (Linum usitatissimum), 340–355 kg ha−1 in toria (Brassica campestris subsp. oleifera var. toria), 448–557 kg ha−1 in gobhi sarson (Brassica napus var. napus), and 438 kg ha−1 in brown sarson (Brassica campestris var. brown sarson) during the study period. Improved technology package has also enhanced the profitability of oilseeds in terms of gross and net returns besides additional returns in the range 2445–12838 ha−1, enhancing incremental benefit–cost ratio (0.96–4.65). Technology indexes in soybean (29.6–52.2%), sesame (52.8–64.7%), linseed (42.3%), toria (45.2–46.4%), gobhi sarson (47.8–51.4%), and brown sarson (29.3%) has implied that demonstrated farm technology in oilseeds is quite feasible under prevailing farming situations in Himachal Pradesh, but it needs to be popularized in an intensive manner to educate hill farmers in NW Himalayas to adopt this technologically sound and economically viable method to enhance oilseed productivity and farm profitability. Improved farm technology, especially improved cultivars and nutrient management technology under these adaptive research trials, has also raised water-use efficiency (WUE) in Kharif (0.28–2.87 kg ha−1 mm) and Rabi oilseeds (1.79–9.43 kg ha−1 mm). Overall, it is concluded that demonstrated farm technology has great potential to improve oilseed productivity, profitability, and WUE, thus enabling resource-poor hill farmers to earn better livelihoods in Himachal Pradesh, India, and collateral farming situations in the developing world.