Impact Assessment of Cluster Front Line Demonstration (CFLDs) on Popularization of Toria Cultivation in Majuli District of Assam, India

Abstract

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat conducted five hundred fifty Cluster Front Line Demonstrations (CFLDs) on toria covering 577 nos. of beneficiary in 32 villages at two development blocks of Majuli district of Assam during 2015-16 to 2020-21. The study was conducted to study the impact of Cluster Front Line Demonstrations conducted by KVK, Jorhat on socio-economic condition, technology adoption and technology gap, adoption pattern of the improved technology among beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the district. The results showed that the Cluster Front Line Demonstrations of the new technologies increased crop yield and net income of the participating farmers from toria cultivation. The average yield of toria varieties under the demonstration was 1007 kg/ha as compared to 674 kg/ha in the farmers practices. The highest mean yield of toria under the technology demonstrated was 1057 kg/ha and the lowest was 956 kg/ha. The mean technology gap (TG), extension gap (EG) and technology index (TI) was 1.93 q/ha, 3.32 q/ha and 16.12 percent respectively which indicates need for improvement of the extension services in educating the farmers for dissemination and adoption of the improved technologies. Lower technology index in the study indicates the efficient performance of the technology. The technology index has reduced from 17.67% to 12.67% from the year 2016-17 to 2020-21 which indicates the adoption as well as feasibility of the technology demonstrated at location specific farmers’ field. The mean gross return (Rs.32, 617.60/ha), net return (Rs. 16,636.00/ha), additional return (Rs. 10,764.52/ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.97) were found higher under improved technology demonstrated as compared to farmers practice. Thus, higher benefit cost ratio proved economic feasibility of the improved technology demonstrated in both the blocks of Majuli district of Assam.