Impact of Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) on Oilseed Crops in South Konkan Coastal Zone of Maharashtra

Sandeep Suresh Patil^*1 ,  Mahesh Mavanjee Mahale² , Sudeshkumar Shivajorao Chavan³

¹Department of agricultural Extension in Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Agricultural University-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lanja, District: Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.

²Department of Agronomy Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Agricultural University-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lanja, District: Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.

³Department of Agricultural Entomology Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Agricultural University-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lanja, District: Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: sspatilextension@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.6.3.14

Abstract:

Frontline demonstration is the long-term educational activity conducted by agricultural scientists in a systematic manner on farmers’ field to show the worth of new practice/technology under the micro-farming situation. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ratnagiri had conducted the frontline demonstrations (FLDs) on oilseeds during 2011 to 2016. The KVK had organized 93 FLDs on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in two villages viz., Asage and Gawane and 26 FLDs on Niger (Guizotia abyssinica) in Gawane village from Lanja Block of Ratnagiri district. Therefore, the aim of present study was to determine the impact of frontline demonstrations (FLDs) on yield, adoption, varietal replacement of oilseed crops and its horizontal spread in Konkan region of Maharashtra state. To get the adequate size of the sample, 119 FLDs beneficiary farmers (93 Groundnut + 26 Niger) were selected as the sample for the present study. The study was conducted in experimental designs (Before-After and Control-Treatment) of social research. The findings showed that significant increase in the average yield of demonstration plot (20.57q ha^-1) over the control plot (13.75 q ha^-1) of groundnut crop. Average yield of niger was 2.75 q ha^-1 , which increased to 3.11 q ha^-1 in demonstration year. FLDs showed a positive impact on the adoption of production technologies in groundnut and niger. The ‘Local’ and ‘SB-11’ variety of groundnut were replaced by improved varieties such as ‘Konkan Trombay Tapora’, ‘TG 26’ and ‘Konkan Gaurav’. Similarly, improved ‘IGP-76’ and ‘Phule Karala’ varieties of niger replaced the ‘Local’ low yielding varieties. The area under improved varieties increased periodically. Thus, it can be inferred that FLD is an effective extension intervention to demonstrate the production potential of improved technologies in oilseed crops on farmers’ field. Therefore, it is recommended that the extension agencies engaged in transfer and application of agricultural technologies on farmer’s field should give priority to organize frontline demonstrations (FLDs) on cluster basis for harnessing the productivity potential of oilseed crops in the country.

Keywords:

Adoption; Frontline demonstrations; Horizontal spread; Impact; Oilseed crops;  Varietal replacement; yield

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