Impact assessment of front line demonstrations (FLDs) on rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety Shraboni in Lakhimpur district of Assam

Rice is normally grown as an important crop of Assam during kharif throughout the state. During 2015-16 to 2019-20, Front Line Demonstration (FLD) on medium duration Sali rice variety Shraboni was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lakhimpur covering 74 numbers farmers in Lakhimpur district of Assam under North Bank Plain Zone by the involvement of farmers participated in the demonstration with the aim to popularized the newly developed improved Sali rice variety among the farming community. It was observed in the demonstration that rice productivity could be increased by replacing the old traditional variety with recommended package of practices. For comparison with demonstrated variety of Shraboni, existing farmers’ variety Mahsuri was considered as check variety. The results of the demonstration showed that the yield of variety Shraboni was ranging from 49.8 to 52.6 q/ha with the average yield of 50.9 q/ha, against the farmers practice of 41.3 to 49.5 q/ha with the average yield of 43.02 q/ha. During 2015-16 to 2019-20, the per cent increase in the yield of improved variety over the farmers’ practice was 6.26% to 23.61% respectively. The demonstration also showed 3.1 to 9.8 q/ha extension gap and 7.4 to 10.2 q/ha technology gap during the period with the technology index of 12.33 to 17.0 per cent which indicated the requirement to upgrade the knowledge farmers and lower the technology index indicated the suitability of improved demonstrated technology at specific location of the farmers’ field. In the demonstrated technology, the average net return (Rs 20,564/ha), economic efficiency (Rs. 151.58/ha/day), benefit cost ratio (1.57) and production efficiency (37.52 kg/ha/day) were also recorded higher against the existing variety of the farmer.