Impact of front line demonstrations on the production and productivity of lentil (Lens culinaris) in Assam, India

Abstract

Pulses are staple protein food item for India‖s vegetarian and rural population to ensure nutritional security. Lentil (Lens culinaris) is one of the oldest pulse crops and most nutritious among the rabi pulses. Assam is the major state where pulses occupy 146.6 thousand hectares with an annual production of 107.5 thousand tonnes and a productivity of 733 kg/ha during 2016-17. Lentil is one of the major crops of the state during rabi. A study was conducted under cluster frontline demonstration programme on pulses to study the yield gap in lentil crop in the state for three consecutive years i.e. from 2017-18 to 2019-20. The study revealed that there was a yield gap between demonstration yields and local check. On the basis of three years data, it was observed that demonstration yield was 47 % higher than local check or farmers practices. Technology yield gap in lentil was highest (6.7 q ha-1) during 2018-19 while lowest (5.8 q ha-1) during 2017-18. Extension yield gap varied to the extent of 1.7 to 3.0 q ha-1 in lentil. Benefit-cost ratio in demonstration plots varied between 1.72 to 2.23 with highest benefit-cost ratio during 2017-18 and lowest in 2018-19 owing to variable performance of lentil over the years. Overall, it is inferred that improved farm technology has great potential in enhancing the lentil productivity and profitability through frontline demonstration programme in Assam.