Impact of Front Line Demonstration on Okra in Raigad District of Maharashtra

The main objective of Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) is to demonstrate newly released crop production and protection technologies and its management practices at the farmer's field under different agro-climatic regions and farming situations. Realizing the importance of frontline demonstrations in transfer of okra production technologies, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Roha-Raigad conducted FLDs at farmers’ field and accordingly study was conducted in Raigad district of Maharashtra state. The study revealed that majority (87.5%) of the respondents had adopted hybrid okra variety resistant to yellow mosaic virus disease. The important package of practices where more increase in adoption was found were use of recommended fertilizer dose (50.0%), timely irrigation (45.0%), use of high yielding varieties (35.0%) and use of proper seed rate and spacing (27.5%). There was significant difference observed in yield of okra before conductance of FLD and after FLD programme. B: C ratio of okra crop after FLD was higher than before FLD. It showed impact of FLD on adoption of okra production technologies. The factors responsible for low B: C ratio before FLD was less adoption of all the recommended package of practices for okra crop in the region.