Impact of frontline demonstrations on oilseed production in Kapurthala district of Punjab

Front Line Demonstration (FLD’s) is a programme to demonstrate and popularize the improved technologies-on farmers’fields for effective transfer of technology and to enhance the productivity and income of the farmers. In this context, Frontline demonstrations on Mustard crop variety GSC-7 were conducted in 45 farmer’s field-during 2018-19 in Kapurthala district. The main reason behind these demonstrations was to promote the recommended variety and package of practices for the crop to get the maximum remuneration to the farmer in terms of high returns. Farmers were getting low yield and returns because of adoption of indigenous practices-during the cultivation. All the latest scientific technologies in terms of cultivation, plant protection as well as seed and pesticides were provided to the farmers in the demonstrated plots. The findings show that average yield of demonstrated plots was 21.94 q/ha, much higher than the check plot (16.67q/ha), showing a significant-increase in yield (32.1%) over check plots. Average extension gap, technology gap and technology index of 5.32 kg/ha, 0.91 kg/ha and 4.11 per cent, respectively was recorded. The benefit- cost ratio (BCR) of 4.14 was recorded in demonstrated plots which were significantly higher than check plot i.e. 2.70. The higher yield and returns in demonstrations shows the significance of improved technologies at demonstrated plots. Thus, it can be concluded that FLDs are an effective extension intervention to demonstrate the production potential of improved technologies on farmers’field in oilseed crops results in increasing the production as well as uplifting-the economic status of the farmers. Therefore, it is recommended that the extension functionaries working in-agriculture fields may give more emphasis on conducting frontline demonstrations (FLDs) on cluster basis for-to get maximum productivity potential of oilseed crops in the country.