Impact of Frontline Demonstrations on Productivity and Economics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Sonipat District of Haryana, India

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra Sonipat has conducted the 205 frontline demonstrations on wheat crop during the year 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 in 73 villages at farmers’ field in district Sonipat and demonstrated the improved agricultural practices and analysed the received economic benefits over the farmers’ practices. The recommended agronomic and engineering practices like in-situ residue incorporation, optimum seed rate, optimised line sowing, use of bio-fertilizer, recommended integrated nutrient and insect pest management over the farmers practice were followed to evaluate the yield and economic performance of wheat varieties HD 2967, HD 3086 and DBW 222 during the rabi season in each year. The three years data revealed that the frontline demonstrations of improved technologies gave mean yield of 46.26 qha-1 while the mean yield of farmers practice was observed as 42.25 qha-1 with overall increased in yield over the farmers practice as 9.81 percent. The extension and technological gap showed a variable trend in each year which indicated that problem centric approach to educate the farmers should be emphasized in the district so as to obtain a stable and reversible trend in gaps. The mean extension gap was observed as 4.06 qha-1 while the mean technological gap was observed as 26.73 qha-1. The benefit cost ratio under frontline demonstrations was 2.66 and under farmers practice was 2.28. The farm operations under improved practices saved gross expenditure of Rs. 2644 Rsha-1 and additional returns due to demonstration of improved technologies were received as 9773 Rsha-1. The major constraint faced by the farmer (95%) was shortage of time for sowing of wheat due to late harvesting of paddy crop followed by inconvenience in paddy crop residue management (92%) although farmers were satisfied with availability of latest farm machinery in the district.