IMPROVEMENT IN PRODUCTIVITY OF CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum) THROUGH FRONT LINE DEMONSTRATIONS

Chickpea (Cicer arientinum) is one of the major pulse crops in the Rabi season in Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh. However, its productivity in the district was very low up to 2006 – 07 due to lack of wilt resistant varieties and knowledge of improved agronomical practices among the farmers. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gwalior has carried out 52 FLDs on 20.8 ha area during 2007–08 to 2010–11 on the farmers fields with wilt resistant varieties viz. JG-11, JG-322, JG-11, JG-16 respectively, along with improved agronomical practices under FLD pulse scheme. The results revealed that wilt resistant chickpea varieties with improved cultivation practices gave 16.13q/ha average yield which was 38.95% higher over local/farmers practices on the basis of 4 years average yield during the study period. Economic analysis showed that front line demonstrations recorded higher net return of Rs. 25056/ha, which was on the basis of 4 years average. The higher average of B: C Ratio 3.12 was obtained under front line demonstrations which was 2.61 under local/farmers practices.