Productivity and Profitability of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in Western Rajasthan

This investigation is an attempt to study the impact of improved practices through frontline demonstrations on productivity and profitability of sesame. The major constraint of its low productivity is non-adoption of improved technologies by the farmers. An increase in productivity was observed due to adoption of interventions like genetically improved variety, balance nutrient management, seed treatment, sowing method and plant protection measures. The impact of improved practices through frontline demonstration revealed that cultivation of improved variety of sesame (RT 351) recorded increased yield of 16.0, 18.8 and 18.9per cent during kharif 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively over farmer's practices. Improved practices gave higher net returns 11265/-ha with additional net return average 4173/-ha as compared to farmer practices. The technology gap, which depicted the gap in the demonstration yield over potential yield was 290, 279 and 178 kg/ha during kharif 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Technology index was ranged 41.44 – 25.43 per cent and average figure comes out to be 35.59 per cent. The FLD practices created greater awareness and motivated other farmers to adopt appropriate sesame production technologies.