Impact of Large Scale Demonstration on Productivity and Profitability of Blackgram Under Rainfed Conditions of Chamarajanagara District, Karnataka (Zone-6)

Abstract

Background: Blackgram is a major pulse crop grown next to horsegram and greengram in Chamarajanagar district. Unavailability of high yielding and yellow mosaic resistant varieties, poor agronomic and pest management practices has led to drastic fall down in productivity and profitability of blackgram in Chamarajanagara district. Methods: Large scale demonstration was conducted in an area of 60 ha covering 150 farmers of K. Mukahalli, Kotamballi, Devalapura, Doddatuppuru and Y.K. mole villages. Further the integrated crop management practices in blackgram variety LBG-791 was demonstrated during Pre-kharif of 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 by ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chamarajanagara, Karnataka. Result: The Yellow mosaic disease incidence was significantly less in LBG-791 (1.40%) when compared to T-9 (Farmers’ variety) (66.8%). Adoption of LBG-791 along with improved crop management practices resulted in 121.5% higher mean grain yield as compared to farmers practice. Higher Benefit: Cost ratio of 1.94 was recorded with integrated crop management practices as compared to farmers’ practices (1.03). The study exhibited mean extension and technology gap of 379 kg/ha and 119 kg/ha respectively. Further the mean technology index was 14.73 per cent. These results indicate that there is a great opportunity for farmers of Karnataka (Zone-6) for increasing productivity and profitability of the blackgram crop by adoption of Integrated Crop Management Practices (ICMP).