Socio-economic development of Kalahandi farmers through training and demonstration programmes in pulses

The present study was carried out at six blocks of the Kalahandi district of Odisha to know the yield gap between recommended practice and farmers’ practice through different demonstration programmes. Pulses yields are very low due to multiple constraints. One of the major constraints is the non-adoption of recommended and improved technologies. Government organized demonstrations for black gram and pigeon pea to popularize improved crop management practices, viz., YMV resistant variety PU-31 and pod borer resistant PRG-176 of pigeon pea seed treatment, and integrated pest management practices like spaying of neem oil, and need-based pesticide application. The demonstrations were conducted in farmers’ fields during Kharif 2018 and 2019. The effective gains were Rs. 13704/ha and Rs. 13272/ha from pigeon pea and black gram, respectively. The incremental cost-benefit ratio was 2.11 and 6.14 for pigeon pea and black gram, respectively.