Performance of Frontline Demonstrations on Chickpea Crop in Pali District of Rajasthan, India

Front line demonstrations (FLDs) on chickpea were laid down at 160 farmers’ fields to demonstrate production potential and economic benefits of improved production technologies comprising high yielding varieties namely RSG 888, RSG 895, GNG 1581, RSG 943 and RSG 9465 in Pali district of arid zone of Rajasthan state during rabi seasons from 2013 to 2019 in rainfed farming situation. The improved production technologies recorded an additional yield ranging from 1.9 to 6.5 q/ha with a mean of 4.4 q/ha. The per cent increase yield under improved production technologies ranged from 39.2 to 65.5 (RSG 888), 30.1 to 63.1 (GNG 1581), 25.2 to 40.2 (RSG 895), 37.5 to 54.1 (RSG 943) and 17.4 (RSG 946) in respective years. The average extension gap (4.4 q/ha), technology gap (4.1 q/ha) and technology index (20.6%) were recorded as 4.4 q/ha, 4.1 q/ha and 20.6%, respectively in different varieties of chickpea. The improved production technologies gave higher benefit cost ratio ranging from 3.5 to 4.6 with a mean of 3.9 compared to local checks (1.6) being grown by farmers under locality. From the result of the findings that the maximum number of the respondents (65.6%) had medium level of knowledge and extent of adoption regarding recommended chickpea production technology. The study reported lack of suitable HYV as major constraints by beneficiaries is rank first followed by low technical knowledge. The productivity of chickpea per unit area could be increased by adopting feasible scientific and sustainable management practices with a suitable variety. Considering the above facts, frontline demonstrations were carried out in a systematic and scientific manner on farmers’ field to show the worth of a new variety and convincing farming community about potentialities of improved production management technologies of chickpea for further adoption by the farming community.