Technology for Promoting Pulses Production: An Economic Evaluation of Front Line Demonstrations in the Intermediate Hill Zone of Jammu & Kashmir

Keeping the importance of frontline demonstrations, the KVK, Poonch, had conducted demonstrations on improved agricultural technologies of pulse crops in a scientific manner at farmers’ fields during the years 2009–10 and 2010–11. This study has reported the yield gaps between farmers’ fields and frontline demonstrations in three pulses, viz. moong, mash and lentil. The study has reported that although the yield of pulses in demonstration plots did not reach the potential level, it was quite high for all the pulses under study, as compared to the traditional plots. The economic parameters in terms of returns form pulses were calculated and compared with the corresponding traditional plots. All the three pulse crops recorded higher gross returns, net returns and B:C ratios in demonstrated plots as compared to the plots where farmers practising traditional cultivation. To narrow down the gap between the yields of different varieties, location-specific recommendations will have to be evolved. Also, to enhance farmers’ knowledge, intensive and effective training of farmers is needed in the study area.