Impact of Cluster Frontline Demonstrations on Chickpea for Productivity Enhancement and Dissemination of Technology in Hisar District of Haryana

Abstract

The present study was conducted at farmer fields in two clusters of district Hisar to demonstrate the production potential and economic benefit of improved production technologies comprising sowing method, nutrient management, chemical weed control, and insect pest and disease management in respect of integrated crop management (ICM) mode. A total of 50 demonstrations were conducted in 1-acre size plot and also maintained same size check plot. Sown the crop after seed treatment with fungicide and culture and applications of pendimethalin for effective controls of the weeds during rabi season 2019–2020. The finding of the study revealed that improved technology recorded an average yield of 7.66 q/ha which was 22.56% higher than obtained under farmer practice (6.25/ha). A higher net income of Rs. 17283/- per ha with a benefit–cost ratio of 2.00 was obtained with improved technology in comparison to farmer practices (10500/- per ha benefit–cost ratio was 1.62). The technology gap was observed at 1634 kg/ha between the potential yield of variety and the demonstrated plot yield. The technology index for demonstration in the study was 68.08 kg/ha in accordance with the technology gap. From the above findings, it can be concluded that the production and productivity of chickpea crops can be increased through cluster frontline demonstrations by motivating the farmers for the adoption of scientific production technologies which were demonstrated in cluster frontline demonstration plots.