D. Pujari, B.K. Das, C.K. Sarma, M.S. Sarma, P. Ahmed, G. Das and S. Kalita
Abstract
Indian rapeseed (Brassica campestris L. var. toria) is a major oilseed crop of Assam. Although rapeseed has a prominent place in the oilseeds scenario of the state, there is a vast yield difference between the potential yield and actual yield realized by the farmers. The productivity of the crop is very low due to poor transfer of technology. There is a tremendous opportunity for increasing area and the production of the crop by adopting the improved production technologies. To boost the production and productivity particularly in oilseed crops, Krishi Vigyan Kendras are playing important role in popularizing the improved technologies by demonstrating at farmersâ fields in their farming situation through Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs). Keeping the importance of FLD on rapeseed for enhancing the acreage and production of the crop, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bongaigaon, Assam conducted 1039 nos. of cluster frontline demonstration (CFLD) on high yielding variety of rapeseed (TS-36) in fifty eight villages in 640 ha of land during rabi season of the years 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 (five consecutive years) to find out the impacts of FLDs on bridging the yield gap between the potential yield and the yield in the actual farming situation. The results revealed that per cent increase in yield over farmersâ practice (local check) ranged from 18.03 to 26.90 per cent over five years. On an average, the technology gap, extension gap and technology index were recorded 1.92q/ha, 2.28q/ha and16.03%, respectively. The benefit cost ratio (BCR) of demonstration plots ranged from 1.94 to 2.97 in rapeseed crop.