Popularization of blackgram (Vigna mungo L) under rainfed condition in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu

The present study was conducted in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu during the year 2016-17 through cluster frontline demonstrations (CFLDs) under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) scheme. The CFLDs were carried out in two clusters comprising 50 farmers with total area of 20 ha in two selected villages in the district. The results revealed that the treatment cluster demonstration with improved variety of blackgram VBN (Bg) 6 + seed treatment (Trichoderma viridi 5 g/kg + Rhizobium sp 25 g/kg + PSB 25 g/kg) + pheromone traps 3/acre + neem oil spray) recorded highest yield 9.22 q/ha as against 6.55 q/ha in control plots with usual farmers’ practice. The demonstration with improved variety recorded higher average gross return (Rs 49,851), net return (Rs 34,586) with higher benefitcost ratio (2.30) as compared to farmers’ practice. Thus the pulses production could be enhanced by encouraging the farmers through adoption of integrated crop management which was followed in the CFLDs.