Performance of Rabi Sorghum variety Phule Suchitra Under Rainfed Condition in Solapur District of Maharashtra, India

Sorghum is an important crop among the major cereals, the staple food and fodder crop of the worlds population located primarily in the semiarid tropics. Front line demonstration on rabi sorghum variety Phule Suchitra with integrated crop management practices was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Mohol (Solapur II) during 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 in Solapur district of Maharashtra. The results from frontline demonstrations from 2020 to 2023 revealed that there was 28.57 to 36.25% improvement in rabi sorghum var. Phule Suchitra grain yield over local checks. Higher grain yield of 2025, 2221, 2350 kg/ha were observed during the study period in comparison with the local check. The results showed that there was improvement in fodder yield of rabi sorghum var. Phule Suchitra to an extent of 29.03 to 34.66% over the local checks. The improvement in yield was mainly due to adoption of improved variety and recommended improved package of practices. The adoption of technology in frontline demonstrations was studied through technology index and the recommended package of practices being followed by the farmers. Technology index for grain yield varied from 2.08 to 15.62 and for fodder yield it varied from 22.30 to 38.46 during the three years of demonstration. Economic analysis concluded that the average benefit : cost ratios of demonstration plots (2.25) were significantly higher over control (1.64). The benefit: cost ratio of the system proved the economic viability of the interventions made under demonstration and convinced the farmers on the utility of interventions.