Impact of Front Line Demonstration on Yield and Economics of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)] in Banswara District of Rajasthan

The present study was undertaken to find the yield gap through FLDs on okra crop. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Banswara conducted Frontline demonstration on 10 farmers for each year since 2016, 2017 and 2018 in different locations of Banswara district. Frontline demonstrations were conducted on okra by the active participation of the farmers with the objective of improved technologies of okra production potential. Use of hybrid variety, balanced use of fertilizer on the basis soil testing report and integrated pest and disease management etc are the main technologies to be tested in this demonstration. Okra is a major vegetable crop of Rajasthan, but the productivity of okra is very low in this district due to lack of knowledge and partial adoption of recommended package of practice by okra cultivators. Results showed that average yield obtained were 142.6, 134.2 and 137.7 q/ha under improved system, whereas, in local variety 80.3, 81.7 and 87.3 q/ha yield was recorded during 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The per cent increase in yield with high yielding over local variety was 57.73 to 77.58 per cent. The extension gap recorded was 62.3, 52.5 and 50.4 per cent during 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Besides this, the demonstrated plots gave higher gross return, net return with higher benefit cost ratio when compared to farmer’s practice.