Performance of Multicut Fodder Sorghum Under Rainfed Conditions of Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka

Abstract

ICAR-KVK, Chamarajanagar has conducted 170 (17 ha) demonstrations on multicut fodder sorghum during 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 in 8 villages. The critical inputs were identifi ed in existing production technology through farmers meeting and group discussions with the farmers. The study revealed that the demonstrated technology recorded signifi cantly a mean yield of 28.14 t/ha which was 133.14 % higher than farmers’ practice (12.07 t/ha). The palatability was also signifi cantly higher with CoFs-29 (92.8 %) as compared to local variety (80.5 %) and similar trend was followed with respect to number of cuttings. Average extension gap, technology gap and technology index were found 16.07 t/ha, 7.86 t/ha and 21.83% respectively. Higher mean gross and net returns and Benefi t: Cost ratio of Rs. 46435/ha, Rs.31489/ha and 3.11 was obtained with multicut fodder sorghum in comparison to farmers’ variety (Rs.19924/ha, Rs.7778/ha and 1.64). Therefore, there is a need to disseminate the improved technologies among the farmers with eff ective extension methods like training and demonstrations. The farmers should be encouraged to grow multicut fodder sorghum varieties under rainfed conditions to get higher green fodder yield and to realize higher returns.