Lentil Cultivation in Rice Fallow for Maximizing Productivity, Profitability and Resource Conservation

Lentil, a popular pulse in the daily diet on Indian population, is a highly potential crop in the rice fallow. In Manipur, a large part of the rice area remains fallow after harvest of kharif rice. Lentil has a very good potential for increasing farm income as well as cropping intensity in these areas. It is obvious that the resources found in rice fallows give a chance to introduce a pulse crop. Those fallow lands can be effectively transformed into productive ones if the location-specific constraints are effectively managed. In addition to increasing system production, it will also improve soil quality, enhance farmers’ income and most importantly, guarantee farmers nutritional security. Since the system uses the residue moisture for growth and development, crop productivity can be even doubled or tripled under rice fallow conditions. Keeping these in mind, these demonstrations are thoughtfully planned, with objectives to boost productivity and production by ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra Chandel.

The study was conducted in Chandel district of Manipur state during 2022–23, 2023–24 and 2024–25 to maximise the productivity of lentil under rice fallow. Sample consisted of randomly selected 75 farmers who were growing lentil under cluster front line demonstrations with an area of 30 hectares with all the scientific package of practices.

The results revealed that improved technology recorded a mean yield of 952 kg/ha which was 22.38 per cent higher than the mean yield obtained under farmers’ practice (675 kg/ha). The mean technological and extension gap were 448 kg/ha and 276 kg/ha respectively. The study also showed that reduction in technology index from 34.29 per cent during 2022–23 to 29.64 per cent during 2024–25 exhibited the feasibility of demonstrated technology. The lower the value of technology index, the more is the feasibility of technology. The average benefit cost ratio of 2.62 was obtained under demonstration, while it was only 1.93 under farmers’ practices. Hence, for maximizing productivity, profitability and resource conservation there is a need to disseminate the improved technologies amongst the farmers with effective extension methods like training and demonstrations and also by using High Yielding Verities of seeds and proven technologies in farmers’ field. The farmers should be encouraged to adopt the recommended package of practices for realizing higher returns.