Role of front line demonstrations on yield enhancement of different crops in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh

The frontline demonstrations were conducted at IGKV KVK, Ambikapur, Surguja within operational area at the adopted villages, namely, Lamgaon, Kundikala, Silsila, Jamdei, Labji, Kanchanpur and Mondesa of blocks-Lundra, Surajpur and Ambikapur, respectively. These demonstrations were conducted other than oilseeds and pulses i. e. maize, rice, wheat, and horticultural crops viz., tomato, chilli and elephant foot yam. Under the oilseed crops, toria and niger and pulses crops-arhar and gram were demonstrated during 2007–08 to enhance the productivity of different crops. Some technologies were demonstrated viz., varietal, timely sowing, integrated nutrient management, production technology, integrated pest and disease management and line sowing. In cereal crops under the recommended practice (RP), the averege yield ranged from 34.33–43.73 q/ha, horticultural crops 164.6–480.2 q/ha, oilseed crop 3.95–8.35 q/ha and pulse crops 12.20–16.12 q/ha, respectively. Whereas the farmers’ practice (FP) worked out significantly lower yield i. e. in cereals 13.45–21.20 q/ha, horticultural crops 101.5–310.2 q/ha, oilseed crops 2.18–5.40 q/ha and pulse crops 5.80–13.90 q/ha. The economics and benefit: cost ratio in recommended practice worked out significantly higher ranges in cereals 2.58–3.52 (RP), 1.90–2.20 (FP), horticulture crops 3.06–8.25 (RP), 1.70–5.43 (FP), oilseed crop 1.60–2.14 (RP), 1.41–1.75 (FP) and pulse crop 2.64–2.90 (RP), 2.00–2.33 (FP), respectively.