Impact and Assessment of FLD on Round the Year Vegetable Cultivation Under Shade Net House for Doubling Farmer’s Income

Thirty-five numbers of front line demonstrations were conducted on round the year vegetables cultivation under shade net house in different location of Mamit district for three consecutive years 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 with an ultimate aim to increase farmers’ income through round the year vegetables cultivation with higher production and productivity with minimal uses of natural resources viz. land and water. Different size (100, 200 and 500 m²) shade net house were constructed under scheme “Promotion of usages of agro textile in North-East India” with 90 per cent financial contribution of Synthetic and Art Silk Mills’ Research Association (SASMIRA), Ministry of textile, Govt. of India and 10 per cent farmer’s contribution used for demonstration purpose. In the present study, productivity of high value crops especially tomato, cucumber and French bean, employment generation, analysis of income and socioeconomic status of small and marginal farmers were assessed. The study revealed that cultivation of round the year high value crops in shade net house with good agriculture practices were increased the total vegetable production almost 1.5-2.5 times higher than that of the open-field cultivation, ensured year-round supply of fresh vegetables, and ensuring better quality produce by exploiting existing agro-climatic advantages and using protected structures. It also provides early nursery and early cropping as well as lucrative returns to the farmers. Enhancement in yield of tomato 133.87 per cent, French bean 53.72 per cent and cucumber 89.15 per cent were recorded. The technology index value was analysed in tomato 26.1 per cent, French bean 10.2 per cent per cent cucumber 9.6 per cent. Extension gap ranged from 296 q/ha in tomato, 50.24 q/ha in French bean and 80.94 q/ha in cucumber. This result emphasizes the benefits in educating the farmers, the various means in adoption of round the year vegetable cultivation under shade net house reducing the wide technology index and extension gap. The fluctuation of net income was also found less in comparison to the open field due to biotic and abiotic stresses; mainly viruses and temperature were most limiting factor for its open field cultivation. Therefore, it can be concluded that round the year cultivation of vegetables in shade net house is helpful in increasing farmers’ income and meet requirement of fresh vegetable round the year.