Impact of Method and Result Demonstration to Improve Productivity and Production in Bastar Region of Chhattisgarh

Cereal crops (paddy, kodo, kutki, ragi, maize), pulses crops (Horsegram, urad) and oilseed crops (niger, sesamum and groundnut) are the most important crops under rainfed and low fertile soil condition in Bastar Plateau region of Chhattisgarh. Which play a major role in contributing towards the income of small and marginal farmers? One of the major constraints of conventional crop cultivation is low productivity due to lack of awareness of recommended package of practices and selection of improved varieties on the basis of agro-ecological situations. The people are very poor and the livelihood depends on subsistence agriculture and also from collection of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP). Fertilizer use varies from 2–10 Kg./ha. (NPK).with almost no use of pesticides and spread of improved crop varieties is extremely limited. To improve productivity as well as income level of framers, On Farm Demonstration was conducted of different crops during 2008–2010 under the NAIP-3 component at adopted farmers’ fields. Recommended package of practices applied to the framers in On-farm demonstration through method and result demonstration viz. use of improvedvariety, line sowing, balanced application of fertilizers under crop protection measures and proper agronomic practices adopting the recommended package of practices increased the yield of crops upto 60 to 90 per cent during 3 years over low traditional method of cultivation. This will enable to enhance the livelihood security and Socio-economic status of poor farmers of the region which indicated that extension and technology gap was found in on-farm demonstration and farmer practices.