Impact Assessment of Front-Line Demonstration (FLDs) on the Yield of Greengram

The green gram cluster frontline demonstrations were conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jalgaon Jamod during 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 in Kharif season and covered 30 ha of land with 75 demonstrations in total 15 villages in 2 clusters of Buldana District of Maharashtra. In front-line demonstrations, improved quality seed variety, seed treatment, recommended fertilizers doses, Rhizobium culture, PSB bio-fertilizers and crop protection management approaches were exhibited in farmers’ fields. The results showed that the highest grain yield was obtained in the demonstration plot with an average of 6.15 q/ha compared to 4.66 q/ha in the farmers’ practice. A higher average net return (Rs.19,712/ha) was obtained in the demonstration plots compared to the farmers’ plot (Rs.13,250/ha). The average B: C ratio was 2.10 in demonstrated plot compared to 1.80 in farmers plot. The average increase in demonstration yield over farmers practice was 32 percent and the increase in net return over farmer practice was 49 %. This is due to both improved technology and improved varieties. The level of return was significantly low for local practices due to a significant difference in the extent of adoption of recommended practices versus the level of risk in terms of cost-benefit, skill and knowledge of the practices involved.