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Type : Other Article

Impact of Frontline Demonstrations on Oilseed Crops in Konkan Region of Maharashtra

Sandeep Patil Mahesh Mahale, Sudeshkumar Chavan and Vaibhav Shinde

Abstract

Frontline demonstration (FLD) 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. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)-Agriculture Science Centre, Ratnagiri has conducted FLDs during 2008 to 2012. The KVK has organized 93 FLDs on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and 26 FLDs on Niger (Guizotia abyssinica) in two villages. This study aimed to determine the impact of frontline demonstrations (FLDs) on yield, adoption, varietal replacement and horizontal spread of oilseed crops. All 119 FLDs beneficiary farmers were selected purposively as sample. The study 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 (20.57qha-1) over the control plot (13.75 qha-1) of groundnut. Average yield of niger was 2.75 qha-1 in 2008-09, which increased to 3.11 qha-1 in demonstration year. 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 had replaced the ‘Local’ low yielding varieties. The FLDs made a positive impact on the adoption of groundnut and niger crop production technologies.

Keyword: Impact; Frontline demonstrations; Oilseed crops;

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