Abstract
ABSTRACT Pulse production in Old Alluvial Zone, Malda is significantly low compared to their potentiality due to poor cultivation practices and adoption of traditional varieties by the farmers. Cluster Frontline Demonstration, which is a noble tool, was studied during 2017–2019 in two pulses viz. blackgram (var. PU-31) and greengram (var. PDM-139) to evaluate its impacts on technology adoption and bridge the gaps in yields among potential, demonstration, and farmers’ plots. In this study, variation of technology index (TI) was observed between 23.6–32.33% and 26.07–31.67% for blackgram and greengram, respectively; whereas extension yield gaps varied by 458.0–522.0 kg ha−1 and 462.0–508.0 kg ha−1, respectively. It was inferred that blackgram and greengram productivity can be enhanced by 76.46–90.43% and 82.06–84.53%, respectively, by adopting an improved package of farm technologies. The BCR (benefit–cost ratio) of blackgram and greengram in demonstration plots varied between 1.99–2.18 and 2.03–2.61, respectively; whereas in farmers’ plots they were 1.38–1.56 and 1.39–1.82, respectively, i.e., average BCR enhanced by 41.61% and 44.57% in demonstration plots over farmers’ plots of blackgram and greengram, respectively, by adopting improved production technologies. During 2017–19, improved production technology in demonstration plots increased the average water usage efficiency of blackgram and greengram by 42.25% and 82.79%, respectively. The yield variations between farmers’ plots and demonstration plots were statistically significant at p ≤ .01 significance level. It is hypothesized that CFLDs are quite feasible and have enormous potential to enhance blackgram and greengram productivity in prevailing farming situations of socio-economically poor farming communities of this region in a sustainable manner.
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