Journal of Community Mobilization and Sustainable Development

A total of 51 demonstrations were conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Ghazipur of Uttar Pradesh at farmers’ field. Full gap was observed in case of use of seed treatment and partial gap was in use of varieties, method of sowing, use of fertilizers, weed management and plant protection measures while, farmers were much concerned about importance of time of sowing. The maximum reduction in insect-pest incidence was recorded in brinjal (67.19%) followed by tomato (57.87%), potato (48.94%) and chilli (43.45%) while, maximum disease incidence reduction was received in tomato (69.67%) followed by chilli (60.94%), potato (58.62%) and brinjal (52.78%). The comparative profitability of different solanaceous vegetable also revealed that among them brinjal produced maximum gross monetary return i.e. Rs. 261000/ha followed by potato Rs. 252225/ha, while, additional net returns was received in tomato Rs. 88367/ha followed by brinjal Rs. 82186/ha and lowest gross monetary return as well as additional net returns was recorded in chilli i.e. Rs. 139560/ha and Rs. 27820/ha, respectively. In all the cases, benefit cost ratio is higher in IT plots as compared to FP and maximum recorded in brinjal 5.74 in IT against 4.88 in FP. The highest incremental cost benefit ratio was 10.68 in tomato followed by 9.00 in brinjal, 8.95 in chilli and 8.82 in potato, indicating a good return of each additional rupee invested on IT in all the crops separately. The outcome of the trial inspired the farming communities to replace their old non-descriptive varieties with high yielding varieties and other technological options including IPM strategies which are being adopted in their cultivation.