Impact of Frontline Demonstrations on Yield, Economics and Adoption of Marigold Cultivation

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jammu conducted the frontline demonstrations on marigold crop during years 2014 to 2019 in three blocks of district Jammu in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir with the objective to determine the impact on yield, adoption and economic impact of marigold cultivation. One hundred and forty beneficiary farmers were selected as the sample for the present study. The farmer practice was considered as local check in demonstration cluster. These check plots were maintained by the farmers according to their own traditional cultivation practices. The KVK provided critical inputs such as seed of improved varieties viz. Pusa Basanti and Pusa Narangi and required agro chemicals to the farmers under demonstration plots. The findings showed an increase in the average yield of demonstration plot (100.0 q/ha) over the control local check (80.0 q/ha) of marigold crop. There was a positive impact on the yield of marigold crop, replacement of local varieties with improved varieties such as Pusa Basanti and Pusa Narangi and adoption of production technologies of marigold crop. The adoption of improved technology under FLDs resulted in higher gross returns (Rs 1,41,333/ha), net return (Rs 1,07,500/ha) and benefit:cost ratio (4.32:1) as compared to farmer's practice.