Impact of front line demonstration on productivity and profitability of field pea under rice pulse cropping system of West Tripura district

Abstract

Pulses are the important crops which provide high quality proteins to improve human health. The cultivation of pulses builds-up a mechanism to fix atmospheric nitrogen in their root nodules and thus meet their nitrogen requirements to a great extent. In India, Pulses can be produced with a minimum use of resources and hence, it becomes less costly than the animal protein. Field pea is one of the important pulse crop of rabi season after dry beans and chickpea. Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a good source of dietary protein to complement the cereal based diet, particularly for vegetarian masses in the country. It is a highly productive crop. In Tripura field pea is grown after harvesting of Kharif rice. The Cluster Frontline Demonstration on Field Pea was carried out by KVK West Tripura during 2018-2019, 2019-20 & 2020-21 in the West Tripura district. Based on the trials conducted by ICAR, improved variety of field pea (Aman) was selected for demonstration. Total 75 nos. of demonstration was conducted covering an area of 15 ha. The demonstration was conducted through a number of extension practices like group meeting, awareness programmes, trainings, demonstrations, field day, etc. The average seed yield of field pea was 1684.49 kg/ha under demonstrated plot as compared to farmers practice (1152.60 kg/ha). The average yield of field pea var. Aman increased under demonstration was 46.20% per cent over farmers practice. Highest net return of Rs. 43571.15/- with benefit cost ratio of 2.30: 1 was obtained with improved technologies in comparison to farmers’ practices. The results clearly indicated that the beneficial impact of front line demonstrations over the farmers practices towards enhancing the productivity of field pea cultivation in West Tripura district. Demonstrated technologies proved more remunerative and economically viable compared to farmers traditional practices in field pea cultivation.