Agricultural Science Digest
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2024
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue: 3

Farmers’ participatory extension research for dissemination of Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. variety-Sulkhaniya bajra in India

  • Author:
  • Hardev Choudhary1,*, Satya Singh1, Suraj Karan Choudhary2, Noushad Parvez1, Mahesh Chodvadiya1, Parthkumar P. Dave1, Vipin Raturi1, Hanumanaram Jhuriya1
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 428 to 433

1Department of Value Addition, Research and Development, National Innovation Foundation-India (Autonomous Body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India), Gandhinagar-382 650, Gujarat, India

2Department of Agriculture, Central Integrated Pest Management Centre (Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage), Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Jaipur-302 016, Rajasthan, India

*Corresponding Author: Hardev Choudhary, Department of Value Addition, Research and Development, National Innovation Foundation-India (Autonomous Body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India), Gandhinagar-382 650, Gujarat, India, Email: hardev@nifindia.org

Online published on 29 July, 2024.

Abstract

Drawing from the different farmer participatory and farmer-managed trials, morphological characterization of farmer's pearl millet variety-Sulkhaniya Bajra was investigated for facilitating registration under PPV and FR Act with performance and suitability evaluation under different agro-climatic zones of the country for its wide-scale dissemination.

Researcher managed and farmer implemented trails (RMFITs) constituted under randomized block design having five treatments with four replications were conducted at two farmers’ fields under Jaipur conditions. During 2016-2019, Farmer-Managed and Farmer Implemented Trials (FMFITs) in Gujarat and Rajasthan with Farmer-Managed Trials (FMTs) in Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Maharashtra were also conducted.

Sulkhania Bajra was superior in both grain (30.6 q/ha) and fodder (63.q/ha) yield as compared to the checks and was characterized by distinct long earheads (64.95 cm), higher plant height (193.13 cm) with early maturity which took 46 days for 50% spike emergence. The unique characteristics coupled with adaptability to harsh environments also enable the variety to serve as suitable breeding material. Multiple drivers influence new technology adoption decisions, the present study reiterates using evidence-backed knowledge for designing and implementing the trials with the farmers’ involvement, taking into account the possible drawbacks for wider acceptance.

Keywords

Climate-resilient, Dissemination, Extension, Farmer's variety, Pearl millet