Ensuring productivity advantages through Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLD)-pulses: Nationwide experiences

Abstract

The present study is the analysis of large scale data (31949 ha area and 79873 farmers) generated through the CFLD on pulses across the major pulses growing states under the ICAR-ATARIs of Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Pune (Maharashtra), Patna (Bihar), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Kolkata (West Bengal), Guwahati (Assam), Shillong (Meghalaya), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Patna (Bihar). The pulse crops included in this analysis were from all three growing seasons: kharif (pigeonpea-5556 ha, blackgram-6067 ha, and greengram-2689 ha), rabi (chickpea-8376 ha, lentil-3747 ha and field pea-1890 ha), and summer (greengram-3624 ha). The average performance data of CFLD were obtained for the above states for all the crops representing all three growing seasons during the cropping seasons of 2016–17 and 2017–18. Thus, CFLD data were analyzed fromacross minimum of 21 states (greengram) and maximum of 24 states (blackgram). The major variables analyzed were average yield obtained from the check plots and demonstrations plots. These yields were computed for yield advantages and also compared with the reported district level, state level, national level yields and the potential yields of the respective crops in the given states (data procured from secondary sources for the year 2017–18). Accordingly, the yield advantages (absolute as well as per cent) at various level were analyzed and their degree of variation was computed for all the crops across the seasons. The paper brings out the results of above analyses in objective manner.

Yield gap and economics of frontline demonstrations (FLDs) on pulses under rain-fed condition

“…This may due to unawareness about high yielding varieties, increased extension yield gap as a result of farmers' ignorance to adopt better farming practices; this suggests that farmers need to be strongly encouraged to embrace improved farming practices in pulse crop rather than sticking with traditional local methods. These findings in line with findings reported by Kumar et al (2022) [5] , Singh et al (2020) [11] , Dubey et al (2022) [2] and Sunitha et al (2020c) [15] reported that the highest extension gap was observed in pigeon pea. This extension yield gap may minimized by promoting some extension activities, organizing awareness training programme to the farmers about high yielding varieties and organizing Krishimela's.…”

“…Results depicts that the demonstrated varieties performed better results. Similar results quoted by Singh et al (2020) [11] , Kumar et al (2010) [6] and Sunitha et al (2020b) [14] that higher technology index may be due to incidence of pest and disease, soil fertility condition and climatic conditions. One probable explanation for low yields and a higher technology index in both crops is poor field establishment during the early vegetative stage caused by water stress under rainfed farming with irregular rainfall distribution, a protracted dry spell, and growing pressure from diseases and insect pests.…”

A Study on Yield and Value Sustainability in Groundnut (Arachis hypogea) Through Cluster Frontline Demonstrations Approach in Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu

“…Improved methods also outperformed farmers' practices in terms of incremental BCR (30.1), gross water productivity (16.58m -3 ), net water productivity (11.89m -3 ), SYI (0.63), SVI (0.47) and water expense efficiency (74.92 kg ha -1 cm -1 ). Rabi pulses had lower SYI (0.45-0.60) as compared to Kharif (0.67-0.83) with black gram SYI 0.67 and summer (0.67) indicating clearly that Rabi pulses can be further exploited for their potential yield especially in lentil and chickpea by improving per unit production to get highest SYI level (Singh et al, 2023).…”