Impact of Front-Line Demonstration on Pulses Productivity and Profitability in Farmers Fields

Abstract

Front-Line Demonstration (FLD) is a long-term educational activity carried out systematically by agricultural experts in the field of farmers to demonstrate the value of new practices/technologies in the micro-agriculture situation. The aim of the FLD was to demonstrate improved pulses technologies for production potential. Improved technologies include the use of improved varieties, seed treatment with Rhizobium and PSB culture, sowing methods, balanced fertilizer application and improved pest control techniques. The results of pulses harvested crop in 2021-2022 showed that improved varieties with improved practice packages recorded a higher yield compared to farmers’ practices. The improved technologies saw yield increases of 26.33 %, 24.63 %, 23.41 % and 22.83 % yield increase over farmer practices in green gram, chick pea, pigeon pea and black gram respectively. The average percentage yield increased by 24.30 % over farmers’ practices. The mean technological yield gap was highest for chickpea (3.47 q/ha), followed by pigeon pea (1.36 q/ha), green gram (1.34 q/ha) and black gram (1.26 q/ha). The maximum mean extension yield gap in the study was recorded in pigeon pea at 11.83 q/ha followed by black gram (5.22 q/ha) and green gram (3.57 q/ha), while the lowest extension yield gap was observed in chickpea (2.44 q/ha). The technology index varied between 7.16 and 17.35% while the lowest (7.16) was recorded for pigeon pea. The highest gross return (Rs. 81,654/ha), net return (Rs. 56,370/ha) and benefit-to-cost ratio (3.23) was recorded with chickpea demonstration followed by Black gram and green gram while lowest gross return (Rs. 44,848/ha), net return (Rs.24,634 /ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.22), which was markedly higher than gross return (Rs. 36,342/ha), net return (Rs.16,430/ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.83) in farmers practice. The improved technologies yielded a higher gross return and, net return with a higher benefit-to-cost ratio than farmers’ practices.