Impact evaluation of cluster front line demonstrations on mustard productivity and profitability in Sirohi district of Rajasthan

Abstract

Krishi Vigyan Kendra organizes Cluster Front Line Demonstrations (CFLDs) yearly for wider adoption of new varieties of crops by farmers as per ICAR-assigned targets. The study assessed the impact of four hundred demonstrations on mustard in 137 ha area in Sirohi since 2020-21 to 2022-23 across several villages of the district. Farmers' meetings and group conversations with the farmers helped identify the technological limitations. The results showed a notable increase in the average yield of the mustard crop (26.47%) in the exhibited plot as compared to the farmer's practice plot. The average yield of the demonstration plots increased in 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23 by 28.97%, 31.07%, and 19.39%, respectively. In the following years, the technological gap was 2.75 q/ha, 3.9 q/ha, and 3.1 q/ha, while the extension gap was 4.92 q/ha, 5.24 q/ha, and 3.05 q/ha. The yield increase in the demonstration plots over the course of these three years was expressed as increased income over the check plots, amounting to Rs. 20656 ha-1, Rs. 26361 ha-1, and Rs. 16655 ha-1 in different years.