Yield gap analysis in Pusa Basmati 1509 in district Mandi of Himachal Pradesh

Yield gaps in adoption of Pusa Basmati 1509 under irrigated farming situations were assessed in district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh during Kharif seasons from 2014–15 to 2016–17. A total of 56 Front Line Demonstrations on Pusa Basmati-1509 were conducted in 26 villages of four paddy growing development blocks of the district. Improved technological package of Pusa Basmati 1509 was compared with that of farmers’ practice and results revealed that with the adoption of improved production technology on Pusa Basmati 1509, the grain yield was invariably higher (4002 to 4325 kg ha^{– 1}) than the farmers’ plot yields (3550 to 3800 kg ha^–1) during all consecutive years. The magnitude of yield increase in FLD's over farmer's plot yields was in the range of 12.67 to 13.81%. The technological gap ranged from 675 to 998 kg ha⁻¹, extension gap from 452 to 525 kg ha^–1 and technology index varied between 13.50 to 19.96% in different years under study. On an average, the net return under demonstrated technology was 18.33% higher over the farmer's practice. Bridging the yield gaps by deploying more efficient research, extension services, ensuring timely agricultural input supplies and creating improved/milling facilities is suggested to intensify the Basmati acreage in the region.