Role of cluster frontline demonstrations in enhancing black gram productivity under rainfed conditions in District Bilaspur of Himachal Pradesh

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bilaspur conducted 106 number of cluster front line demonstrations (CFLDs) during kharif 2017 and 2018 on an area of 42.4 ha under rainfed conditions. There was a wide yield gap between the potential and demonstration grain yields in blackgram crop mainly due to technology and extension gaps. The study on black gram crop indicated that increase in grain yield over farmers’ practice was 87.4 and 127 per cent, respectively during the years. It was further observed that in terms of economics, black gram crop recorded higher net returns/ha compared to farmer’s practice during both the years. The benefit cost ratio was 4.1 and 2.5, respectively, during kharif 2017 and 2018 in demonstration plots of black gram. The percent technology index varied between 27.3 to 32.6 per cent indicating urgent need to motivate the farmers to adopt economical viable technologies for increasing production, productivity and profitability of pulse crops.