IMPROVEMENT OF PRODUCTIVITY OF WHEAT THROUGH FRONT LINE DEMONSTRATIONS

Wheat (Triricum aestivum L.) is a major cereal crop of Rabi season in Ajmer district of Rajasthan. However, its productivity is very low as compared to other districts. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra Ajmetr has carried out front line demonstrations on wheat covering an area of 70 ha of farmer's field from 2003-04 to 2010-11 to exhibit latest production technologies and compared it with farmer's practice. An attempt has also been made to know the productivity and economics of front line demonstrations & the adoption of latest production tecinologies by the 50 FLD farmers and 50 non-FLD farmers. FLD farmers and non FLD farmers were randomly selected from FLD village (excluding 2010-11). The results revealed that improved technologies of wheat enhanced yield from 42.47 q/ha to 49.22 q/ha in front line demonstrations. The percentage of increase in yield ranges from 27.46 to 39.65. The economic analysis of yield performance showed that front line demonstrations recorded higher gross return (Rs. 65077/ha), average net return (Rs. 44500/ha) with higher cost benefit ratio of 3.16 as compared to local check. Full extent of adoption of improved teconologies of wheat cultivation was in the range of 24 to 94 percent in FLD farmers while it was in the range of 4 to 56% among non-FL farmers. This might be due to the fact that FLD was effective in changing attribute, knowledge, adoption of improved technologies of wheat and ultimately in obtaining sustained income.