The frontline demonstrations on BDN 711 variety of pigeonpea were conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Khamgaon of Beed District, Maharashtra State. Frontline demonstration of pigeonpea variety BDN 711 were conducted during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 on 20 ha area in 50 number of demonstration each year. Pigeonpea variety BDN 711 which is released by Vasantarao Naik Marathada Krishi Vidyapeeth which is resistant to wilt, drought tolerant and suitable for medium type of soil. Improved cultivation practices were demonstrated in farmer’s field for three consecutive years. The result of the demonstrations showed higher yields compared to farmers practices followed for pigeonpea cultivation. The average increased per cent seed yield is 31.11 over the years from frontline demonstrations compared to check plots. However, during the year 2021-22, the per cent increase in seed yield was 44.00. The huge variation in farmers practices adopted in the cluster villages. The other parameters like extension gap, technological gap and technology index were derived for assessment of technology adoption rate. The average technology gap and technology index were 540 and 25.74 per cent, respectively. The improved technology recorded higher average seed yield 1660 kg/ha. over farmers practice 1267 kg/ha. The improved technology gave higher average gross return (97967 Rs./ha.) average net return (70633 Rs./ha.) with higher benefit cost ratio (2.43) as compared to farmers practices. The results clearly indicated that the beneficial impact of front line demonstrations over the farmers practices towards enhancing the productivity of pigeonpea cultivation under rainfed condition in Beed district of Maharashtra state, India. Demonstrated technologies proved more remunerative and economically feasible compared to farmers traditional practices in pigeonpea cultivation.

Background: Pulses are the integral part of many diets across the globe and they have great potential to improve human health, conserve our soils, protect the environment and contribute to global food security. India is the largest producer, consumer and importer of the pulses in the world. Pigeonpea is an important pulse crop that plays an important role in the food and nutritional security of people in the developing countries and contributing to protein intake. It is a soil building crop and being a leguminous crop, fixes atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic fixation, there by helps in N cycling within the ecosystem. Method: Cluster frontline demonstrations on BDN 711 variety of pigeonpea were conducted bsy Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Khamgaon of Beed District, Maharashtra State. Cluster frontline demonstration of pigeonpea variety BDN 711 were conducted during 2019-20 to 2022-23 on 80 ha area in 200 number of total demonstrations. Pigeonpea variety BDN 711 released by Vasantarao Naik Marathada Krishi Vidyapeeth is resistant to wilt, drought tolerant and suitable for medium type of soils. Improved cultivation practices were demonstrated at farmer’s field for four consecutive years by active participation of farmers with an objective of improved technologies of pigeonpea production potentials. Results: The result of the demonstrations concluded that an average yield of pigeonpea under improved technology ranged from 1430 kg/ha to 1800 kg/ha with a mean 1664 kg/ha; which was 30.61 per cent higher over farmers practice (1274 kg/ha). Morever, average yield recorded was higher under demonstrations over district and state average. The study exhibited mean extension gap of 391 kg/ha, mean technology gap 535 kg/ha with mean technology index 25.23 per cent. Higher mean net return of Rs. 71912/ha with mean B:C ratio 2.36 was obtained with improved technologies in comparison to farmers practice. The results clearly indicated that the beneficial impact of front line demonstrations over the farmers practices towards enhancing the productivity of pigeonpea cultivation in Beed district of Maharashtra state, India. Demonstrated technologies proved more remunerative and economically viable compared to farmers traditional practices in pigeonpea cultivation.