Adoption of Improved Late Sown Mustard Cultivation Practices - A Case Study in Bihar

Mustard is an important oilseed crops and contributes around 23.2 percent of total oilseed production in India. However, its productivity in Bihar is very low. Attempts are being made to improve productivity and to increase area under mustard by adoption of HYVs (High yielding varieties). In order to compare conventional mustard with HVY, 65 front line demonstrations were carried out in systematic manner on farmer's fields to show the worth of new varieties in comparison to local check. To facilitate the farmers through FLD's about potentialities of new improved production management practices of late sown mustard for the adoption, knowledge, satisfaction and effective scientific package of practices. The demonstrations resulted enhancement in productivity. The yield was found to be increased from 7 (q/ha) in local check to 11 (q/ha) in FLDs. Similarly, the benefit: cost ratio can be further improved to 2.92 as compared to 1.6 in local check. Lack of market and support price (93.47) was recorded major constraints in late sown mustard cultivation. Hence, increase in yield over farmer's practices was evident which indicated the need of educating farmers through front line demonstration.