Adoption of urdbean (Vigna mungo) production technologies in Lalitpur district of Bundelkhanda region of Uttar Pradesh

Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) on urdbean were undertaken by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lalitpur in the district for 5 consecutive years starting from 2010 to 2014 during the kharif season in 12 villages spreading over 3 blocks for dissemination of improved technologies of urdbean (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) to increase productivity and to assess the economic viability and technological feasibility of the latest urdbean production technologies over the existing one. The highest seed yield (870 kg ha -1) was recorded under FLD in the year 2013 was against 420 kg ha⁻¹ under farmers’ practices. Eighty two percent increases in the yield were observed under FLD over farmers’ practice. The lowest yield of 770 kg ha⁻¹ was registered under FLD vis-à-vis 450 kg ha⁻¹ in farmers’ practices during 2011. The result revealed that even in case of lowest yield under FLD, the increase was recorded to be seventy one per cent over the farmers’ practice. The economic viability and profitability showed that the benefit cost ratio (B:C) was higher in the case of improved agro-technologies (FLD) with 2.48 as against 1.43 in farmers’ practice (FP). The net return from improved agro-technologies (FLD) was T 19820 ha ’as against Ï 9700 ha⁻¹ from farmers’ practices. The variation in agro-climatic parameters as well as locations of FLD programme was effective in changing the attitude, skill and knowledge of the farmers for adoption of improved technology/HYV of urdbean and further wide scale diffusion to the other farmers. It also improved the relationship between the farmers and scientist and built confidence between them.