Front Line Demonstration

Front Line demonstrations (FLDs) is a unique approach to provide an direct interface between researcher and farmers as the scientists are directly involved in planning, execution and monitoring of the demonstrations for the technologies developed by them and get direct feedback from the farmers' field about the crops. The main objective of Front-Line Demonstrations is to demonstrate newly released crop production and protection technologies and its management practices in the farmers’ field under different agro-climatic regions and farming situations. While demonstrating the technologies in the farmers’ field, the scientist are required to study the factors contributing higher crop production, field constrains of production and thereby generate production data and feedback information. Front-Line Demonstrations are conducted in a block of two or four hectares land in order to have better impact of the demonstrated technologies on the farmers and field level extension functionaries. KVK laid out 1235 FLD’s on field crops viz., maize, rice, soybean, blackgram, groundnut, wheat, gram, mustard and greengram in 290 ha area on newly released varieties and technologies of different crops during 2018-19. For popularization of vegetables and fruits production and live stock production, KVK also laid out 571 demonstrations on vegetables (okra, tomato, onion, clusterbean), fruit crops (mango, papaya, guava), livestock (Sirohi goats & bucks, green fodder, mineral mixture, backyard poultry, azolla), storage bins, nutri garden and vermicomposting. A brief illustration about these demonstrations are being given as under-

Cereals

Rice :
FLDs on rice were laid out in 5 ha area on 25 farmer’s field during 2018-19. Variety Pusa Sugandha-5 recorded an increase of 49.39 per cent yield over local check. Variety Pusa Sugandh-5 is gaining popularity in the operational area of KVK and farmers of FLD on Rice Pusa Sugandh-5 adopting suggested cultivation practices and technologies especially seed treatment, nursery raising – SRI and INM.

Maize :
With an aim to demonstrate yield potential of newly released hybrids of maize, 197 front line demonstrations in 50 ha were conducted by using hybrid Bio 9682 and DHM 117. The average yield of these hybrids was recorded 38 to 40q/ha, which was 20.60 to 24.31 per cent higher over local check. Other technologies demonstrated in FLD’s were seed treatment, sowing at 60 cm row spacing, recommended seed rate of 25 kg/ha, use of INM, weed management and IPM.

Wheat : KVK demonstrated newly released thermo- insensitive wheat varieties Raj-4079 in the district through 50 FLDs in 10 ha area. The variety Raj-4079 gave average yield of 34.5q/ha which was 21.48 per cent higher over local check (variety Lok-1) due to its suitability to climatic condition of Dungarpur. Varieties Lok 1 and Raj 4037 were grown in large area, but after the introduction of Raj 4079 in last two years, 20-25 % wheat area in the district is being covered under this variety. In addition to this, most of farmers of KVK adopted villages have also started to reduce their wheat seed rate to 150 kg/ha instead of 175-200kg/ha, adopted balanced fertilization along with application of nitrogen in two splits and top dressing of urea after irrigation instead of top dressing of urea before irrigation and thereby reduced N loses in wheat cultivation. Pulses.

Greengram : Cluster FLDs on greengram under NFSM-pulses were laid out in 20 ha area with 100 farmers during the period under report. Variety IPM-02- 03 along with IPM modules recorded increase in yield up to 41.60 per cent as compared to farmer’s practices. The demonstrated variety have been spread throughout the district and grown in more than 25 per cent greengram area.

Blackgram : KVK demonstrated Pratap Urd 1 variety of blackgram under NFSM-pulses through 78 cluster FLD’s in 30 ha area and an increase in yield of 45.0 per cent was recorded over local check.

Gram : Cluster FLDs on gram under NFSM-pulses were laid out in 40 ha area with 197 farmers during 2018-19. Variety GNG-1581 along with IPM modules to manage gram pod borer, recorded increase in yield up to 42.27 per cent as compared to farmer’s practices. The demonstrated varieties have been spread throughout the district and grown in more than 40 per cent gram area.

Oilseeds

Groundnut :
Cluster FLDs on groundnut under NFSM-oilseeds were laid out in 54.8 ha area on 214 farmer’s field during 2018-19. Variety JL 501and GJG 22 recorded an increase of 18.62 to 25.0 per cent yield over farmers practices. Variety GJG 22 is gaining popularity in the operational area of KVK and farmers are FLD on groundnut variety GJG 22 adopting suggested cultivation practices and technologies especially seed treatment, INM, IWM and IPM.

Soybean :
KVK demonstrated JS 20-29 variety of soybean under NFSM-oilseeds through 140 cluster FLDs in 30 ha area and increase in yield of 47.06 per cent was recorded as compared to local check (JS 335). Looking to the performance of JS 20-29 FLDs, area under this variety will be increased in coming season in the nearby adopted villages.

Mustard :
Cluster FLDs on mustard under NFSM-oilseeds were laid out in 30 ha area with 140 farmers during 2018-19. Variety RH-406 along with IPM modules, recorded increase in yield up to 32.50 per cent as compared to farmer’s practices. The demonstrated varieties have been spread throughout the Simalwara block of the district and grown in more than 30 per cent mustard area.

Vegetables and Spices

For the livelihood and nutritional security of marginal and small tribal farm families through crop diversification, KVK made special efforts, to introduce vegetable cultivation for higher income and generate additional employment to farm households in the district. In the adopted villages and nearby villages, 566 FLDs in 69 ha area on vegetable crops, viz. okra, tomato, clusterbean, onion and coriander were demonstrated. This intervention changed the socio-economic status of farmers. Farmers earned net income of Rs. 22000 to 37000 just from 0.2 ha land. Earlier they were getting only Rs.7000 to 13000 from same piece of land. Vegetable cultivation not only enhanced family income but also generated additional employment. The farmers achieved state of art in vegetable cultivation especially in Bichhiwara block of the district.

Animal husbandry demonstration

Backyard Poultry :
To generate additional income to landless and marginal tribal farmers, KVK provided 33 units of Pratapdhan backyard poultry (16+4 birds) in the 2018-19. Pratapdhan poultry breed is developed by MPUAT, Udaipur. It is three way cross between Native x Broiler x RIR . It lays 160 eggs per year with broodiness character.

Sirohi goat & buck :
As the district is tribal dominated and farmers rear goat for their livelihood and nutritional security. But they have non-descript poor yielder goats. With an aim to improve the breed of existing goat, KVK provided 45 breeding bucks of Sirohi breed in last four years in the district. Presently more than 700 progenies of Sirohi breed are visible in the villages. Besides this, KVK also made available 53 goat units (2 goats + 2 kids) to tribal farmers to ensure their livelihood with the self financial assistance. One year old male of Sirohi progeny gain average weight of 30 to 32 kg, whereas, the non-descript male attains weight 22 to 25 kg. By sale of one male goat kids farmers, earned additional returns worth Rs.2500 to 3000.

Creation of safe grain storage

Storage potential of 100 q grain / seed has been created in the adopted villages by providing 200 G.I storage bins of 2 q capacity. This intervention saved 20-30 per cent grain/seed from storage pest and spoilage due to moisture. This intervention is saving approx. 100 q grains/seeds per annum worth Rs. 2.0 lac.