Frontline Demonstration A Tool to Study Drought Tolerant and High Yielding Red Gram Variety for Davanagere District, India

Red gram (Cajanus cajan) grown in an area of 2.51 lakh hectares with the production of 1.21 lakh tonnes and productivity was 482 kg/ha in India. The Cluster Frontline Demonstrations C(FLD’s) on BRG-5 variety of pigeon pea were conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra of Davanagere District, Karnataka State.BRG-5 variety was released by University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru during 2014-15, which is resistant to wilt. Improved cultivation practices were demonstrated in farmer’s fields for three years. The results of the demonstration showed higher yield when compared to the local (traditional variety) where we followed improved production technology for red gram. The average increased per cent seed yield is 30.88 over the years from front line demonstrations compared to farmer practice plots. However, during the year 2018-19, the per cent increase in seed yield was 37.72. Average gross return and net return were ₹ 49695 and ₹ 25916 ha-1 respectively in demonstration plot (BRG-5) as against ₹ 37162 and ₹ 17110 ha-1 in farmer practice (BRG-2). The other parameters which include extension gap, technological gap and technology index were studied for assessment of technology adoption rate. The average extension gap, technology gap and technological index were 2.82 q/ha, 6 q/ha and 33.35 per cent, respectively. The studies clearly indicates positive impact of frontline demonstrations against the farmers practice towards increased productivity in red gram by following the production technology under rain fed farming of Davangere district of Karnataka state, India.