Raising productivity and profitability of red gram (Cajanus cajan L.) in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lam, Guntur carried out cluster frontline demonstrations (CFLDs) on Red gram in the Andhra Pradesh state during the kharif season of 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 in the villages of Guttikonda, Jullakallu, and Batluru , respectively. The variety LRG- 152, when treated with imidacloprid at 2 ml/kg, carbendazim at 1g/kg, and Rhizobium spp. at 25 g/kg, along with plant protection (yellow sticky trap + neem oil + insecticide), fertilizer, and weed control, produced the highest average yield of 21.56 kg/ha (2016-17) compared to the farmers’ usual yield of 1863 kg/ha. The fluctuation in minimum support price selling rates as announced by GOI resulted in the greatest net returns of Rs.60560 /- during the year 2022-23 and the least net returns of Rs. 58250/- during the year 2020-21. According to the study, there was an average 343 kg/ha extension gap between farmers' practices and the technology that was exhibited. Over the course of all the years, the technological gap averaged 380 kg/ha. The improved performance of suggested varieties with various treatments and the increased viability of recommended technologies during the study period were the reasons for the variations in the technology gap between years. In a similar vein, every research demonstration's technology index complied with the technological gap. It was clear from this that adopting new technologies through CFLDs could increase the production of red gram. Therefore, it's imperative to use efficient extension techniques to spread the upgraded technologies among farmers, such as trainings and demonstrations.