Utilization of rice fallow through cluster frontline demonstration programme: An adaptive research trial on mustard

Cluster frontline demonstrations programme of mustard is a noble initiative of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GOI, under NMOOP to minimize yield gaps in oilseed production through higher technological adoption. Thus, under cluster frontline demonstrations programme on mustard, a study was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2016–18 involving 104 numbers of tribal farmers in rice fallow areas of Wokha district in Nagaland for enhancing the cropping intensity and profitability by using proven technology through scientific soil and crop management practices. The results revealed that mustard seed yield varied from 1001 to 1121 kg/ha under CFLD programmes as compared to 547 to 625 kg/ha in farmer's practice; thereby showing a technological gaps of 379 to 500 kg/ha and extension yield gaps of 441 to 513 kg/ha in the current study area. It was also inferred that by adopting improved production technologies, mustard productivity could be enhanced by 75.3 to 93.8 percent over traditional cultivation practice. The improved technology package has also provided an additional profit of INR 15,446-17,959 per ha with an incremental benefit—cost ratio of 2.72–3.06:1. Technology index value varied from 25.3 to 33.3%, thereby revealing that adoption of technologies demonstrated under CFLD programme was quite feasible in the prevailing farming situations of Nagaland. The demonstrated technologies had also improved soil residual nutrient status by increasing available N, P and K content marginally. Therefore, it is concluded that CFLD under NMOOP has great potential to scale up mustard productivity and livelihood of farmers in Nagaland.