Impact of Front Line Demonstrations on Productivity and Profitability of Major Food Grain Crops at Tribal Farmers’ Fields in Kota District of Rajasthan

Blackgram, chickpea and wheat are the major food grain crops cultivated in the Kota district of Rajasthan. To popularize improved varieties and production technologies, frontline demonstrations were conducted on these crops by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kota under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) during kharif and rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 on tribal farmers’ fields. Technological interventions demonstrated mainly consisted of improved varieties Pant urd-31, GNG-1958 and Raj-4079 of blackgram, chickpea and wheat; respectively along with recommended improved agronomic practices. Analysis of two years data revealed that demonstrated improved technologies increased the productivity and profitability of demonstrated crops during both the years. On pooled basis, demonstrated techniques enhanced the productivity of blackgram, chickpea and wheat to the extent of 40.87, 20.52 and 10.49 per cent; respectively over farmers practice (5.75q, 16.88q and 43.88 q/ha). Economic analysis confirmed the cost-effectiveness of the demonstrated techniques on farmer fields as demonstrated techniques fetched higher net returns during both the years. It was also observed that, on an average, tribal farmers could be able to get additional returns of Rs. 7363, Rs.13458 and Rs.8230/ha due to application of improved technologies in blackgram, chickpea and wheat crops; respectively. This study emphasizes the need for conducting demonstrations to adopt improved technologies by the farmers of tribal area to uplift their status of livelihood.


INTRODUCTION
The Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) is a planning concept used in India to channelize the flow of benefits from the Central government for the development of tribal populations in the states (Anonymous, 2019). The objective of TSP is to bridge the gap between Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and others by accelerating the development of STs.
The Scheduled Tribe population in Rajasthan state is 13.5 per cent whereas it is 9.4 per cent in the Kota district (Anonymous, 2011). Agriculture, with its allied sectors, is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider in India, more so in the vast rural areas. Kota is one of the most important district of Rajasthan with a view of agriculture production potential. Villages with more share of tribes in population were identified in the district under TSP and their needs were assessed for improving agricultural productivity. Based on need assessment, frontline demonstrations and trainings were organized for bridging the extension gap in production technologies among tribal farming community.
Among food grain crops blackgram, chickpea and wheat are the major crops cultivated in the Kota district. More than 95 per cent of its net sown area is irrigated in the district and soils are clay loam with higher production potential. There are several technologies generated at agricultural universities and research stations, but the productivity of these crops is still lower at tribal farmers' fields due to extension gap. It has been reported that there existed extension yield gap of 2.36 q, 3.56 q and 5.50 q/ha in blackgram, chickpea and wheat crops productivity in the Kota district; respectively (Sharma et. al.2019(Sharma et. al. , 2020 GNG-1958, seed treatment with carbendazim 50 wp @ 2 g/ kg seed and Rhizobium culture inoculation, recommended doses of (N 20 kg & P 40 kg/ ha) and pod borer management through integrated approach. While technological interventions for wheat crop FLDs during rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19 included improved variety Raj-4079, seed treatment with carbendazim 50 wp @ 2 g/kg seed and recommended doses of fertilizers (N 120 kg & P 40 kg/ha, soil application of zinc sulphate @ 25 kg/ha). Farmers were also suggested for efficient use of fertilizers by drilling in furrows, split application of urea, need based weed management and irrigation at critical stages.
All steps like site and farmer selection, layout of demonstration, farmer's participation etc. were followed as suggested by Choudhary (1999). Selected farmers were provided technological information of FLDs through training programmes before onset of sowing time. Critical inputs of demonstrations were provided to the farmers and other suggested inputs were managed by the farmers. The sowing of blackgram was done during last week of June to second week of July by drilling in 30 cm rows spacing with seed rate of 20 kg/ha and harvesting of crop was done during second fortnight of September. Chickpea crop was sown during November month by drilling in 30 cm rows apart with seed rate of 80 kg/ ha. The sowing of wheat crop was done during first week of November to first week of December by drilling in 22.5 cm rows apart using seed rate of 100 kg/ha and harvesting of crop was done during first fortnight of April. KVK scientists visited FLD sites periodically for monitoring and needful suggestion were given to the farmers. Field days were also organized at crop maturity to demonstrate the results of FLDs among other farmers of the neighboring area for acceptance & further adoption of improved technologies. Data related to yield and cost of cultivation were collected separately for FLD plots and farmers practice (local check) plots.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of the frontline demonstrations conducted at tribal farmers' fields clearly reveals that productivity of blackgram, chickpea and wheat were improved substantially under demonstration in comparison to the local checks (farmer's practice) during both the years. Due to improved yield advantage, farmers get higher profitability under improved practice of demonstration. Crop wise performance data on productivity and profitability are presented in Two years pooled data shows that demonstrated technologies recorded mean yield of 20.33 q/ha which represents 20.52 per cent yield improvement over farmers practice (16.88 q/ha). Higher productivity of chickpea under demonstration in comparison to farmer's local practice could be ascribed mainly to the higher yielding capacity of improved variety GNG-1958 and recommended package of practices applied. The variety showed better branching, comparatively higher number of pods per plant, bold size grain and also found moderately resistance to wilt disease. Yield enhancement in chickpea crop though frontline demonstrations at different locations were also documented by Tiwari & Tripathi (2014), Sharma et al. (2015) and Sharma et al. (2020a) Wheat Demonstration on wheat variety Raj-4079 with improved agro-techniques resulted in improved productivity level during both the years. Farmers could be able to get above 10 per cent higher yield over local practice. Wheat yield of 48.51 and 48.44 q/ha were observed under demonstrated techniques which were 10.25 and 10.72 per cent higher over farmers local practice yield (44.00 & 43.75 q/ha) during rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively. On an average, wheat productivity was enhanced to the extent of 10.49 per cent over farmers practice (43.88 q/ha). The improved productivity of wheat under demonstration could be mainly due to the use of improved variety Raj-4079 and use of optimum seed rates, proper use of recommended doses of NP fertilizers and biofertilizers inoculants application. Similar yield enhancement trends in wheat crop due to application of improved technologies were also reported by Sharma et al. (2020b). respectively. Wheat crop with improved variety also fetched higher net returns in comparison to the farmers practice during both the years. On two years average, demonstrated technologies fetched net returns of Rs. 59604/ha with B:C ratio of 3.21, higher in comparison to local practice (Rs.51374/ha, B:C ratio 2.91). Further, it was observed that improved technologies provided average additional returns of Rs. 8230/ha due to yield improvement.