Role of cluster frontline demonstrations in enhancing black gram productivity under rainfed conditions in Darrang District of Assam

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Darrang conducted Cluster Front line Demonstrations (CFLDs) programme on blackgram during kharif 2022 and 2023 on an area of 20 ha each 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. Improved crop management practices recorded the highest mean seed yield of 7.7 q ha-1 and 7.9 q ha-1 which was 37.50 and 29.50 per cent higher than the yield obtained with farmers practice (5.6 q ha-1) & (6.1q ha-1) in the year 2022-23 & 2023-24 respectively. The average technology gap was recorded 0.8 q/ha and 0.6 q/ha in case of blackgram var. SBC40 in 2022-23 & 2023-24 respectively while average extension gap was recorded 2.1 q/ha and 1.8 q/ha. Due to adoption of improved package of practices, demonstration plots recorded higher average seed yield over local check. 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 3.18 and 1.92, respectively, during kharif 2022 and 2023 in demonstration plots of black gram. The percent technology index varied between 9.41 and 7.05 per cent indicating urgent need to motivate the farmers to adopt economical viable technologies for increasing production, productivity and profitability of pulse crops.