2025, Vol. 8, Special Issue 3

author(s)
Uttam K Tripathi, RS Negi, KS Shukla, VK Gautam, Satish Pathak, Deepesh Bharat Mishra and PS Dixit

abstract
Mustard crop offers immense scope for enhancing the productivity as well as profitability of rain fed farming areas in Chitrakoot District of UP. This stems from the fact that the existing yields and income from rain fed areas in the district are much less Promotion of mustard cultivation by utilizing the rice-fallow land and diversifying the rice wheat cropping system to Blackgram/Greengram-Mustard cropping system offers immense potential for enhancing the income of farmers living in rain fed and limited irrigation conditions. Development of climate resilient varieties particularly temperature-heat tolerant, early maturing varieties along with new production techniques in mustard which are most suitable for rain fed farming areas has given scope for promoting mustard cultivation in such region. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chitrakoot made concerted efforts in promoting mustard cultivation in rain fed areas of the district by selecting 462 farmers for Conducting Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs) from 2019-24 using Integrated Crop Management technologies on Mustard. The study was carried out to analyze the overall effectiveness of the CFLDs. A combination of experimental and before after research designs was used. The results obtained from both the demonstrated and local check plots were compared, and the average yield of the improved mustard varieties PM 28 & PM 30 from demonstrated plots were significantly higher than that from the local check plots during five years. On an average extension and technology gaps were recorded as 3.03q/ha and 3.61 q/ha, respectively. The average technology index was 18.96 per cent and the lowest was noticed in the last year of the demonstrations, indicating the increased adaptability and efficiency of recommended technologies in field conditions. The results revealed that the integrated crop management practices increased the seed yields of mustard. The average seed yield of 15.41 q/ha was obtained under improved production technology which was 19.12% higher over farmers practice. The average net returns and benefit-cost ratio from the demonstrated plots were also recorded higher than the local check plots in all five years. Cluster Frontline demonstrations recorded additional net returns (Rs.12289/ha) and benefit cost benefit ratio (3.20) under improved production technologies. Overall, the CFLDs positively impacted the mustard growers of the adjoining villages in the area and motivated them to adopt the recommended practices for higher yield and profitability.