Scalingup of lentil productivity and economic return of farmer’s through frontline demonstrations of improved technology

Improving lentil productivity through improved technology

Abstract

Lentil (Lens culinaris) is one of the oldest pulse crops and most nutritious among the rabi pulses. Front line demonstration was conducted at farmer’s field of Gazipur UP, India, involving improved technology. The productivity and economic returns of lentil from improved technologies were calculated and compared with the corresponding farmer’s practices (local check). Results revealed that improved scientific lentil production practices recorded higher yield as compared to farmer’s practices. The improved technology recorded higher yield of 13.87 q/ha and 14.70 q/ha in the year 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively over farmer’s practice 10.90 and 10.67 q/ha. In the economic front too, improved technology gave higher gross return (90155 and 88200 Rs./ha), net return (63336 and 65714 Rs./ha) with higher benefit cost ratio (3.36 and 3.92) as compared to farmer’s practices. The variation in per cent increase in the yield was attributed by lack of scientific knowledge, and poor socio economic condition. Under sustainable agricultural practices, with this study it is concluded that the FLDs programmes were effective in changing attitude, skill and knowledge of improved package and practices of HYV of lentil adoption.